No abstract

The optimum conditions for cleavage of the fatty acid ester linkages in the lecithin molecule were found to be 20 min. at 10°C with the use of two moles of lithium aluminum hydride per mole of lecithin. The product formed under these conditions was identified to be l-α-glycerylphosphorylcholine when ovolecithin which was shown to be l-α-lecithin was used. Discussion has been presented as to two mechanisms possibly participating in the cleavage of glycerylphosphorylcholine, one involving a complex formation with the phosphoryl group and the other with the cationic nitrogen atom of the choline base.