Studies of the hydrolysis of 14C-labeled tetraethoxypropane to malondialdehyde

1,1,3,3-[1,2,3- 14C]Tetraethoxypropane has been subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and the [1,2,3- 14C]malondialdehyde produced was quantitated following chromatography on Sephadex G-10. At initial concentrations of tetraethoxypropane of 1, 10, and 100 m m, malondialdehyde constitutes 77, 80, and 78%, respectively, of the material eluting from the columns. The malondialdehyde has been identified by its chromatographic behavior and by uv and NMR spectroscopy. Two different procedures are given for the preparation of crystalline sodium malondialdehydate.