The preparation of polyunsaturated aliphatic aldehydesvia the acyloin condensation

Summary The preparation of linolenaldehyde and of mixed aldehydes from highly unsaturated sources, such as menhaden oil via the acyloin condensation, is described. Reduction of the acyloins and subsequent cleavage of the glycols gave over‐all yields of 85 to 90% free aldehydes. The intermediates in the synthesis as well as the final products were analyzed in part by the novel method of thin‐layer silicic acid chromatography.