GB816224A - Preparation of vitamin a esters - Google Patents

Abstract

Higher fatty acid esters of Vitamin A are obtained by esterifying Vitamin A with a higher fatty acid ester of a lower alkyl monohydric alcohol in the presence of a basic alcoholysis catalyst. As higher fatty acid esters of lower alkyl monohydric alcohols there may be used methyl palmitate, ethyl palmitate, butyl stearate, methyl oleate, propyl linoleate, methyl myristate and methyl laurate. As basic alcoholysis catalysts there may be used sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, lithium isopropoxide, calcium methoxide, barium isopropoxide, sodium hydride, potassium amide, sodium palmitate, lithium palmitate and barium hydroxide. The temperature of reaction is varied according to the catalyst employed. Sodium methoxide may be employed at about 0.2-0.5 per cent by weight of the reaction composition. The reaction is effected in an inert solvent, e.g. xylene, benzene, petroleum ether, and diethyl ether. An example describes the preparation of Vitamin A palmitate.