Kinetics of acyl migration in monoglycerides and dependence on acyl chainlength

The chemical rearrangement reaction of β- into α-monoglycerides is described. Four monoglycerides with different fatty acid chainlength have been investigated, and the equilibrium constant and the reaction velocity constants characterizing the reaction of the chemical rearrangement were estimated with a mathematical model. A 1∶6.5 mixture of α/β-monoglycerides appeared to rearrage to a mixture of 1∶1 α/β-monoglycerides within 24 h. Furthermore, the reaction velocity of the rearrangement reaction of β- to α-monoglycerides depended on the fatty acyl chainlength in the monoglyceride.