Alcoholysis ofVernonia anthelmintica seed oil and isolation of methyl epoxyoleate

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Abstract
The methyl esters ofVernonia anthelmintica seed oil were prepared without oxirane destruction by methanolysis using potassium methylate as catalyst. A single crystallization of the methyl esters from petroleum ether at 蜢60C was found to be a convenient means of preparing large samples of methyl epoxyoleate of 93.6% purity in 92% of theory yield as based on oxirane titration. Further purification was achieved by recrystallization from petroleum ether at 蜢40C to give a product at 97% purity in 54% of theory yield. Gas‐liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography along with associated techniques were employed to obtain the fatty acid composition of the crystallization fractions. Fifteen fatty acid methyl esters, including the methyl 12,13‐epoxyoleate were identified.