Acids and their functionally substituted esters from Amaranthus cruentus seed oil

The acid composition of seed oil of Amaranthus cruentus and the synthesis o f their glycidyl and pyridine-containing esters are studied It is demonstra ted that 67% of the total acids are C-18-polyunsaturated linoleic and linol enic. A new method for preparing glycidyl esters of C-18-unsaturated carbox ylic acids is developed by reacting their salts with ECG in an aprotic medi um to produce the corresponding glycidyl esters. Thc reaction of the glycid yl esters and pyridine salts with carboxylic and phosphonic acids produces the propanolpyridine esters of the acids that combine the properties of the acids and pyridinium salts and are promising in the search for biologicall y active compounds.