1. Bayberry wax, also known as myrtle or laurel wax, is obtained from the berries of various species of Myrica. The commercial wax, prepared from the berries of Myrica cerifera, may be obtained from chemical supply houses for about $0.60 per pound. The relative proportion of myristin and palmitin in bayberry wax varies somewhat, but these two compounds constitute about 95% of the wax.

2. Several columns are suitable for this separation. The submitters used a three-ball Snyder column 26 cm. in length (similar to No. 28575 of E. H. Sargent, Chicago), sealed to a 500- or 200-ml. modified Claisen flask. The method of operation was essentially that of Simons and Wagner.¹ The column was not electrically heated but was snugly wrapped with asbestos paper. The rate of distillation was about 20 drops per minute, and the reflux ratio 2 or 3 to 1. Flooding of the column must be carefully avoided. The checkers used a modified Widmer column which carried a spiral, 14 cm. long with eleven turns of the helix, contained in a glass tube 12 mm. in internal diameter. A 500-ml. flask was employed for the first fractionation and a 250-ml. one for the refractionation. The column and the oil bath were heated electrically. A ground-glass joint was used for connecting the flask and column, the design and method of operation being that described by Smith and Adkins.² The temperature of the bath and column heater was so adjusted that the rate of distillation was 3–4 drops per minute, the spiral being well covered with returning liquid.

3. Suitable ranges for taking off fractions at various pressures on the first fractionation are as follows: 6 g., 152–157°/10 mm.; 176 g., 157–160°/10 mm.; 119 g., 160–180°/10 mm.; 126 g., 180–183°/10 mm.; 163 g., 115–123°/1 mm.; 115 g., 123–130°/1 mm.; 141 g., 130–133°/1 mm.; 29 g., below 91.5°/0.5 mm.; 116 g., 91.5–94.5°/0.5 mm.; 71 g., 94.5–115°/0.5 mm.; 170 g., 115–118°/0.5 mm.; 28 g., 118–125°/0.5 mm. Upon refractionation cuts were made as follows: 6 g., 152–157°/10 mm.; 161 g., 157–162°/10 mm.; 81 g., 162–171°/10 mm.; 64 g., 171–180°/10 mm.; 120 g., 180–183°/10 mm.; 198 g., 112–116°/1 mm.; 72 g., 116–129°/1 mm.; 147 g., 129–133°/1 mm.; 8 g., below 91.5°/0.5 mm.; 172 g., 91.5–94.5°/0.5 mm.; 10 g., 94.5–115.2°/0.5 mm.; 200 g., 115.2–118.2°/0.5 mm.; 25 g., 118.2–125°/0.5 mm. The temperature at which the esters distil varies with the rate of distillation and with the details of construction and operation of the column. The figures given above are intended to suggest the approximate ranges for cutting fractions.

4. This procedure has been used successfully for many years in the preparation of ethyl laurate, caprylate, and myristate by the alcoholysis of cocoanut oil (1 kg.) in ethanol (1.9 kg.) with hydrogen chloride (50 g.) as a catalyst.³ The method differs slightly from the one described above. The alcoholysis is complete after 15 or 20 hours, and the solution is then neutralized to methyl orange with barium carbonate. The mixture is added to an equal volume of a saturated sodium chloride solution, whereupon 1100–1300 g. of the mixture of crude ethyl esters separates. This mixture of esters is washed with water and fractionated as described above. The yields are approximately 50 g. of ethyl caprylate, 350 g. of ethyl laurate, and 60 g. of ethyl myristate from 1 kg. of cocoanut oil.

5. The methyl myristate obtained (n²⁵D 1.4353) showed a melting point of 19° when at equilibrium with the liquid. The methyl palmitate (n²⁵D 1.4391 when supercooled) gave a melting point of 29.5°.

6. Myristic and palmitic acids can be obtained from their esters by the procedure in Org. Syntheses Coll. Vol. 1, 379 (1941). From 100 g. of methyl myristate is obtained 85–89 g. (90–95%) of colorless myristic acid melting at 52–53°. From 100 g. of methyl palmitate is obtained 84–88 g. (90–95%) of colorless palmitic acid melting at 62–63°.