Poly(Crown Ether) Catalyzed Derivatization of Lower Fatty Acids for Gas Chromatography

Abstract
Poly (crown ether) was employed as a catalyst of derivatization of lower fatty acids to the p-bromophenacyl esters for gas chromatographic determination of them. The esterification reaction proceeds quantitatively under mild conditions, i.e. at room temperature and within 30 min. The poly (crown ether) did not interfere with the gas chromatogram of the esters unlike monomeric crown ethers. Normal fatty acid (C1-C6) and the isomers could be determined simultaneously near to the detection limit of FID.