High‐yield preparation of methyl stearolate

A simplified laboratory procedure for preparing methyl stearolate consists of three steps—bromination, dehydrobromination, and purification. A variety of starting materials was investigated, including oleic acid, olive fatty acids, and triglycerides. Brominations of both fatty acids and triglycerides were conducted in diethyl ether. Dehydrobrominations were carried out in boiling 30% KOH‐ethylene glycol solutions or in 30% KOH‐water solutions under pressure. Saponification of the triglycerides also occurred at this step. After conversion to methyl esters and distillation, the product from olive oil analyzed 79% methyl stearolate. Purification was accomplished by either argentation or acetonitrile‐hexane countercurrent distribution and yielded methyl stearolate of +99% purity. Over‐all recoveries, based upon the amount of oleic acid present in the initial oil, averaged 80%. In addition to the laboratory procedure, possible production operations are outlined.