Mass spectra of triterpenyl alkanoates, novel natural products

• Published in: Journal of mass spectrometry. Vol. 32; no. 12; pp. 1356 - 1361
• Main Authors: Elias, Vladimir O., Simoneit, Bernd R. T., Pereira, Alberto S., Cardoso, Jari N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.12.1997; Wiley
• Subjects: amyryl fatty acid esters; Analytical chemistry; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas chromatographic methods; high-temperature gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; Other biological molecules; taraxasteryl fatty acid esters; Terpenes, steroids. Hormones; triterpenyl fatty acid esters; Pentacyclic compound; Electron impact; Terpenoid; Chemical analysis; Coupled method; Fragmentation pattern; Fatty acids; Gas chromatography; Analysis method; Triterpene; Qualitative analysis; Secondary alcohol; Acylate; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 1076-5174; 1096-9888
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9888(199712)32:12<1356::AID-JMS602>3.0.CO;2-O

A series of high molecular mass pentacyclic terpenoid wax esters in smoke from biomass combustion were characterized by high‐temperature, high‐resolution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Based on their mass spectra, they are interpreted as being a series of triterpenyl fatty acid esters (e.g. α‐ and β‐ amyryl palmitate). The carbon chain length of the fatty acids ranges from 5 to 20. This interpretation is supported by retention indeces, molecular ions and typical fragments of pentacyclic triterpenoids. Essentially, the mass spectra are simple and composed of the molecular ion, M‐CH3, M‐fatty acid and fragments characteristic of the esterified triterpenoid moieties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.