HEXADECENOL AND TETRADECENOL IN SPERM HEAD OIL

Abstract
Hexadecenol and tetradecenol have been isolated from the unsaponifiable matter of sperm head oil, and the acetates of these alcohols have been oxidised with potassium permanganate in glacial acetic acid. From the results of an examination of the oxidation products, the constitutions of these alcohols have been established as follows: Δ 9:10-Hexadecenol (zoomaryl alcohol) CH3·(CH2)5CH=CH·(CH2)7·CH2OH Δ 5:6-Tetradecenol (physeteryl alcohol) CH3·(CH2)7CH=CH·(CH2)3·CH2OH It is thus seen that hexadecenol and tetradecenol in sperm head oil are the mono-ethylenic alcohols corresponding to zoomaric acid (Δ9:10-hexadecenoic acid) and physeteric acid (Δ5:6-tetradecenoic acid) respectively.

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