Autoxidation of methyl linolenate and methyl linoleate: The effect of α‐tocopherol

Abstract α‐Tocopherol substantially affects the distribution of peroxidic compounds formed during the autoxidation of methyl linolenate and methyl linoleate. In the autoxidation of both these unsaturated fatty acid esters the proportion of monohydroperoxides with conjugated double bonds in the trans, trans configuration is reduced until at high concentrations of α‐tocopherol (5%) only cis, trans isomers are formed. In the autoxidation of methyl linolenate the proportion of hydroperoxy‐epidioxides is reduced and only monohydroperoxides are formed when 5% α‐tocopherol is present. The results are discussed in terms of recent findings concerning the mechanism of the autoxidation of unsaturated lipids.