The aldehydes produced during the autoxidation of cottonseed oil

Abstract

Summary Spectrophotometric evidence was obtained that Δ 2 and Δ 2:4 aldehydes are produced during the autoxidation of cottonseed oil. The unsaturated carbonyls were converted into semicarbazones and 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazones whose characteristics indicated that the oxidation of cottonseed oil produces Δ 2:4 ‐decadienal, Δ 2 ‐octenal, and hexanal. Although the exact mechanism of their formation has not been established, these aldehydes are believed to result from the decomposition of the isomeric hydroperoxides of linoleic acid, the principal fatty acid constituent of cottonseed oil.