Methanolic HCl (hydrogen chloride in methanol) is particularly useful for preparing methyl esters of volatile (short chain) fatty acids. Fatty acids are esterified by heating them with an anhydrous alcohol (e.g., methanol) in the presence of an acidic catalyst (e.g., HCl) in a sealed vessel at a high temperature for a short time. In the reaction, a fatty acid molecule and an alcohol molecule are joined, with the release of a water molecule. The derivatives can be quickly and easily recovered, quantitatively, from the reaction medium.
Features and Benefits
- Derivatization of fatty acids, particularly volatile (short chain) fatty acids
- Clean reaction (no side reaction) with volatile by-products
- Provides clean, fast, quantitative derivatization
Application
Suitable for derivatization of corticosteroids, estrogens, fatty acids, hop and beer bitter acids, lipids and formic and acetic acid (in cigarette smoke).