Acyl migration in diglycerides

Abstract

The equilibrium between 1,2-dipalmitin and 1,3-dipalmitin as a result of acyl migration has been studied using thin-layer chromatography and densitometry. When isomerisation is catalysed by potassium hydroxide, the composition of the equilibrium mixture varies with the temperature of the isomerisation. This variation is consistent with the idea that the equilibrium composition is a function of the relative rates of esterification of primary and secondary hydroxyl groups.