1867-91-0

A series of symmetrical (ABA) and non-symmetrical (AAB) triacylglycerol (TAG) isomers containing "A," palmitic (P; 16:0) acid, and "B," either oleic (O; 9c-18:1), elaidic (E; 9t-18:1), linoleic (L; 9c,12c-18:2) or linolenic (Ln; 9c,12c,15c-18:3) fatty acids were synthesized by esterification of the thermodynamically more-stable 1,3-di- or 1(3)-monoacylglycerols [1,3-DAG or 1(3)-MAG], respectively. 1,3- dipalmitoylglycerol (1,3P-DAG) was esterified with O, L or Ln acid to prepare the symmetrical TAG isomers POP, PLP and PLnP, while the O- E-, L- and Ln-1(3)MAG precursors, synthesized or obtained commercially, were esterified with P acid to prepare the non-symmetrical TAG isomers OPP, EPP, LPP and LnPP, respectively. The drop point(s), solid fat content and melting point values of the synthesized TAG were determined. The 1,3-dipalmitoylglycerol (1,3P-DAG) and 1(3)P-MAG precursors were prepared, in multi-gram quantities, by partial glycerolysis (glycerol/p-toluenesulfonic acid) of tripalmitin. After fractionation by silica gel chromatography, the 1(3)P-MAG and 1,3P-DAG isomers (ca. 80% of total MAG or DAG) were purified (>98%) by crystallization from acetone [silver ion-HPLC was utilized to determine the structural purities of the DAG (or MAG) precursors, and the synthesized TAG]. Esterification of the appropriate, thermodynamically more-stable MAG or DAG precursors was found to be a very versatile method for synthesis (in 80-90% yields) of multi-gram (3-5 g) quantities of symmetrical and non-symmetrical TAG isomers, in chemical and structural purities of >96 and 97-99%, respectively.

Silver-ion normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provides a superior separation selectivity for lipids differing in the number and position of double bonds in fatty acid chains including the resolution of triacylglycerol (TG) regioiso

Human milk fat contains 20-25% palmitic acid (16:0) and 30-35% oleic acid (18:1). More than 60% of the palmitic acid occurs at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. Palm oil is a rich source of both palmitic and oleic acids. The structured lipid 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) is an important ingredient in infant formula. OPO was synthesized from palm oil by a three-step method. In the first step, low-temperature fractionation was applied to palm oil FA, yielding a palmitic acid-rich fraction (87.8%) and an oleic acid-rich fraction (96%). The palmitic acid content was further increased to 98.3% by transforming palmitic acid into ethyl palmitate. In the second step, esterificalion of ethyl palmitate and glycerol catalyzed by lipase Novozym 435 under vacuum (40 mm Hg) was employed for the synthesis of tripalmitin. Finally, OPO was obtained by the reaction of tripalmitin with oleic acid catalyzed by Lipase IM 60. In this final step, the TAG content in the product acylglycerol mixture was 97%, and 66.1 % oleic acid was incorporated into TAG. Analysis of the FA composition at the sn-2 position of TAG showed 90.7 mol% of palmitic acid and 9.3 mol% of oleic acid. OPO content in the product TAG was ca. 74 mol%. Thus, an efficient method was developed for the synthesis of OPO from palm oil.

Host-recognizing kairomones for the stinging behavior of the parasitic wasp, Anisopteromalus calandrae, were identified on host azuki bean weevil larvae, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.). The kairomones were extracted with acetone from Chinese green beans, from which emerged wasps and host weevils had been removed. The kairomones are a mixture of triacylglycerols and fatty acids, each of which is separately active, and with no observable synergistic effect between them. These compounds are known to be constituents of an oviposition-marking pheromone of host azuki bean weevils. However, they differ from the previously reported saturated hydrocarbons and diacylglycerols of the kairomone that another parasitic wasp, Dinarmus basalis, uses for the host recognition of C. chinensis. Thus, A. calandrae and D. basalis selectively utilize different constituents of the oviposition-marking pheromone of C. chinensis as host-recognizing kairomones.