Palmitic anhydride was used in the synthesis of water-soluble N-palmitoyl chitosan (PLCS) by coupling with swollen chitosan in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It was also used in the synthesis of N-acylphosphatidylserine.
Palmitic anhydride reacted with 20-methyl spirolide G to form a derivative with a retention time and spectrum identical with the metabolite, 17-O-palmitoyl-20-methyl spirolide G.
It is moisture sensitive and hydrolyses in water. Purify it by refluxing with acetic anhydride for 1hour, evaporating and freeing the residue of acetic acid and anhydride by drying the residue at high vacuum and recrystallising from pet ether at low temperature. [Beilstein 2 IV 1181.]
