Abstract
Exposure of vitamin A acetate in ethyl acetate solution with irradiated methyl linoleate to air quickly destroyed vitamin A. The absorption maximum at 325mμ disappeared and a new maximum at 280 mμ was shown. The unsaponifiable fraction from the reaction mixture is also characterized by the same absorption maximum and separated into several zones on alumina chromatography. The eluate from the top zone shows 280 mμ absorption and the oily substance is turned into 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone of mp 146-147℃. Epoxy-β- cyclocitral is the most probable oxidation product assumed from its analytical data.
