Thermal degradation of single 7-cholesteryl acetate hydroperoxide

Summary The thermal degradation products of the 7- and 7-cholesteryl 3-acetate hydroperoxides obtained by thermal oxidation of cholesteryl 3-acetate are reported and discussed. The hydroperoxides were degraded in both the vapour and condensed phases. The main components identified were 7-ketocholesteryl 3-acetate, 7- and 7-hydroxycholesteryl 3-acetates and the products generated from the loss of the hydroperoxide group and/or of acetic acid. Remarkable is the finding of the epoxy-hydroxy derivatives of cholesteryl acetate among the degradation products.