THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF SINGLE 7-CHOLESTERYL ACETATE HYDROPEROXIDE

The thermal degradation products of the 7 alpha- and 7 beta-cholestery l 3 beta-acetate hydroperoxides obtained by thermal oxidation of chole steryl 3 beta-acetate are reported and discussed. The hydroperoxides w ere degraded in both the vapour and condensed phases. The main compone nts identified were 7-ketocholesteryl 3 beta-acetate, 7 alpha- and 7 b eta-hydroxycholesteryl 3 beta-acetates and the products generated from the loss of the hydroperoxide group and/or of acetic acid. Remarkable is the finding of the epoxy-hydroxy derivatives of cholesteryl acetat e among the degradation products.