Abstract
This research was carried out to find the kinds of compounds formed by the action of 30% H2O2 on saturated fatty acid esters.
Methyl ester of palmitic-, lauric-, caprinic-, caprylic-, caproic-, valeric-, and butyric acid were reacted under various conditions, without catalyst.
As the reaction products, lower mono- and di-carboxylic acids and lower carbonyl compounds were always recognised, and di-carboxylic acids were obtained with good yield, especially from lower fatty acid esters, under the condition of the mol ratio of methyl ester to hydrogen peroxide to be 1 : 11 or more, and over 30 hrs at the temperature of 95105°C.
From the value of the fixed quantity of carbon dioxide that produced by these reactions, it was recognised that lower esters were more readily reactive than the higher homologue.
