Hydrazine reduction in the gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the methyl esters of cyclopropenoic fatty acids

Hydrazine was used to hydrogenate the double bond of cyclopropenoic fatty acids (CPEFA) without cleaving the cyclic system. Using gas liquid chromatography (GLC), quantitation studies showed that it was possible to accurately determine CPEFA at concentrations as low as 0.1%. Studies with kapok seed oil methyl esters illustrated the potential application of such a technique to selectively hydrogenate the CPEFA to cyclopropanoic fatty acids (CPAFA), rendering them stable on the column, with a minimum effect on the degree of unsaturation of the remaining double bonds. Hydrazine reduction was found to be a simple and accurate method of measuring CPEFA in seed oils. Decomposition of pure methyl sterculate (methyl 9,10-methylene-9-octadecenoate) on GLC columns of various polarities also was examined.