Identification of thermal oxidation products of cholesteryl acetate

The polar products separated by solid-phase extraction from the peroxidation mixture of cholesteryl acetate, were investigated. The oxidation products were identified by comparing GC retention times as well as the mass spectra against those of available or synthesized standards. The main oxidation products where 7 beta-chydroperoxicholesteryl acetate, 7 alpha-hydroperoxicholesteryl acetate, 7-ketocholesteryl acetate, the alpha and beta isomers of 7-hydroxycholesteryl acetate, the alpha- and beta-epoxy isomers in 5,6 position and several derivatives from the loss of groups (especially the acetic and/or hydroxyl groups in the form of acetic acid and water).