CONFIGURATIONAL PURITY OF LESQUEROLIC ACID

Conversion of the methyl ester of lesquerolic acid, (R)-14-hydroxy-Z-1 1-eicosenoic acid, to a carbamate with (S)-1-(1'-naphthyl)ethylisocyan ate gave a single diastereomer. Comparisons of elution orders of the r elevant diastereomers obtained from the racemic ester and from a sampl e of lesquerolic acid synthesized from ricinoleic acid, (R)-12-hydroxy -Z-9-octadecenoic acid, were consistent with the original assignment o f (R)-configuration for the longer-chain acid. Although the configurat ion had not been in doubt, this work demonstrates the configurational purity of the lesquerolic acid.