Fatty Acid Derivatization

[Ann Lucas]

Hello,
I am doing some fatty acid work and I am going to need to derivatize them. I have a BF3 method, but I was wondering if anyone had another method they were working with? I am just exploring my options right now, but I will need to make a choice in the next few weeks. I am working with eggs to find the cholesterol, fatty acids, etc. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!
Ann Lucas

[oscarBAL]

Hello Ann, I worked with Na/MeOH before, work good however, Is not nice to prepare it and is more unstable that BF3, in my personal experience I think is better to use BF3, you can read here about diferent sterification procedures: http://www.lipidlibrary.co.uk/topics/ester_93/#top
You know already how to analize the Cholesterol?

I hope this be usefull for you.

[Consumer Products Guy]

Ann - here we esterify fatty acids with BF3-methanol, but we;ve also used H2SO4-methanol. We do cholesterol by capillary GC with the traditional cholestane internal standard.

[Ann Lucas]

Thank you both for your prompt replies. I am very new to this type of chemistry and any help I can get is wonderful! I have looked at the lipid library, but have not looked at the different sterification procedures. But I will do that today. And no, I do not know how to analyze cholesterol. I have read a few articles and some other information, but I have not come up with a method yet. I know it is out there; I just have not uncovered it. I am butting up against the wall between book learning and practical experience!
Thanks again for your help! I am very willing to listen to those with more experience than me!
Ann Lucas