Petroselinic acid: occurrence in some Umbelliferae seed fats

Abstract

The Indian Umbelliferae seed oils of cumin, dill, and ajowan were analyzed by Pb-salt sepn. of the fatty acids to liquid and solid constituents and further fraction as esters to show petroselinic acid (I) (6-octadecenoic acid) contents of 21.3, 44.8, and 41.8%, resp. I was identified by alk.-KMnO4 oxidation to the dihydroxy acid, m. 122°, and development of adipic acid and lauric aldehyde on further oxidation. Elaidinization of I and oxidation yield a dihydrostearic acid that m. 115-17°.