The reaction of methanol with SBO at 6:1 molar ratio with 0.5% sodium methoxide at 20–60°C was a combination of second-order consecutive and fourth-order shunt reactions. The reaction rate constants for the alkali-catalyzed reaction were much higher than those for the acid-catalyzed reactions. Rate constants increased with an increase in the amount of catalyst used. The activation energies ranged from 8 to 20 kcal/mol. Ea for the shunt reaction triglyceride-glycerol was 20 kcal/mol.