Stereospecific analysis of monounsaturated triacylglycerols in cocoa butter

The enantiomeric composition of the monounsaturated triacylglycerols (TG) from cocoa butter was estimated. The monounsaturated TG were separated into three fractions by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and each fraction was subjected to the stereospecific analysis with chiral‐phase HPLC. The results indicated that the major TG consisted of equal amounts of 1‐stearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐3‐palmitoyl‐ sn ‐glycerol (SOP‐ sn ‐TG) and POS‐ sn ‐TG (47 mol%), 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (SOS‐TG) (33 mol%), and POP‐TG (19 mol%). The contents of SOP‐ sn ‐TG and POS‐ sn ‐TG are 1.30 times that of the POP‐TG content, and the SOS‐TG content is 1.30 2 times that of the POP‐TG content. The term “priority factor” is proposed for the ratio of the stearoyl group/palmitoyl group, 1:30 at the sn ‐1 and sn ‐3 or 1(3)‐position. It shows a distinct specificity for particular fatty acids or their Coenzyme A esters in random esterification at each position of the glycerol moiety in the biosynthesis of cocoa butter TG.