Mass spectrometer-gas chromatograph was used to measure the mass spectra and retention data of methyl esters of n-heptadecanoic acid (I), 15-methyl-(iso, II), 14-methyl- (anteiso, III), 6-methyl-(IV), and 2-methylhexadecanoic acid (V), their a-hydroxy derivatives (VI-X) and trimethylsilyl ethers. The mass spectra of methyl esters of 2- hydroxyheptadecanoic acid (VI) and 2-hydroxy-15-methylhexadecanoic acid (VII) are very ...