Crystal packing of a homologous series β′‐stable triacylglycerols

Abstract

Abstract From a homologous series of C n C n+2 C n ( n = even) triacylglycerols which are β′‐stable, Guinier X‐ray powder diffraction photographs were used to determine cell parameters and space groups. The powder diffraction patterns are consistent with a pseudo‐orthorhombic unit cell with space group lc2a . Only one axis is changing as a function of chain lengthening. The experimental results were used to propose a β′‐crystal packing for triacylglycerols. In contrast to earlier proposed β′‐crystal structures, the acyl chains of this structure are not tilted with respect to the methyl‐end group plane. Furthermore, with only one molecule in the asymmetric unit, overall orthogonal chain packing is obtained when the intramolecular acyl zigzag planes are parallel.