Isolation and Partial Identification of Lactones from Technical Isostearic Acid

Abstract Using the techniques of clathrate formation with urea and chromatographic separation on silicagel, lactone fractions (about 6–8%) were isolated from technical isostearic acid. The lactones were partially identified (GC/MS) as a range of γ‐lactones which included branched and unbranched isomers and homologs, besides other compounds. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of these lactones, relating them to the bulk of the isostearic acid isomers.