ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATURAL FATS.
By J. ALFRED WANKLYN and WILLIAM FOX.
In the course of an investigation in which we are at present engaged we have arrived at some results which appear to us to be very interesting. We find that the generally received view that the fats are ethers of glycerin is partially correct, and that instances of a different kind of structure occur among the natural oils and fats.
Ethers of iso-glycerin, or of homologues of iso-glycerin, appear to occur. Iso-glycerin has this structure:
C(OH)2
CH
CH3
It exists in its ethers, but cannot be isolated, and should be resolved into:
COOH + H2O
CH2
CH3
Ethers of iso-glycerin, or ethers of homologues of iso-glycerin, yield no glycerin when saponified.--Chemical News.
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