Silylation of hydroxyl groups in methyl esters of unsaturated hydroxy acids provides compounds that give mass spectra which can be readily interpreted, whereas spectra of underivatized esters are extremely difficult to evaluate. The relationship of the double bond(s) to the trimethylsiloxy (TMS) group results in specific mass spectral patterns. In esters that have the TMS group separated from the double bond by one methylene group, the ions caused byα-cleavage at the TMS group on the side closest to the olefinic group are much more abundant than those produced fromα-cleavage on the other side of the TMS group. In esters that have the TMS group and the double bond separated by two methylene groups,α-cleavage ions are approximately equal. When the TMS group and the double bond are allylic, no fragmentation results between them. Cleavage does occur on either side of this system, and those ions resulting from cleavage alpha to the TMS group are in greatest abundance. Silylation of esters that have a conjugated diene or ene-yne system adjacent to a hydroxyl group also gives derivatives amenable to gas chromatographymass spectrometry. In these esters, large peaks are observed that arise fromα-cleavage at the TMS group and at the other end of the olefinic system. No fragmentation between the TMS group and the sites of unsaturation occurs. Unsaturated epoxy methyl esters produce spectra difficult to interpret. When the epoxide is converted to methoxy-hydroxy derivatives by BF3-methanol, the spectrum locates the position of the epoxide group. Silylation of the hydroxyl group produces a compound that gives a less complicated spectrum which also locates the original epoxy group. Mass spectrometry of a series of unsaturated keto-esters, without derivatization, provides spectra that are easily interpretable.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of methyl esters of unsaturated oxygenated fatty acids

Occurrence of unusual fatty acids in plants

Members of the genusLesquerella, native to North America, have oils containing large amounts of hydroxy fatty acids and are under investigation as potential new crops. The triglyceride structure of oils from twenty-fiveLesquerella species in the seed collection at our research center has been examined after being hydrolysis-catalyzed by reverse micellar-encapsulated lipase and alcoholysis-catalyzed by immobilized lipase. These reactions, when coupled with supercritical-fluid chromatographic analysis, provide a powerful, labor-saving method for oil triglyceride analysis. A comprehensive analysis of overall fatty acid composition of these oils has been conducted as well.Lesquerella oils (along with oils from two other Brassicaceae:Physaria floribunda andHeliophilia amplexicaulis) have been grouped into five categories: densipolic acid-rich (Class I); auricolic acid-rich (Class II); lesquerolic acid-rich (Class III); an oil containing a mixture of hydroxy acids (Class IV); and lesquerolic and erucic acid-rich (Class V). The majority of Class I and II triglycerides contain one or two monoestolides at the 1- and 3-glycerol positions and a C18 polyunsaturated acyl group at the 2-position. Most Class III and IV oil triglycerides contain one or two hydroxy acids at the 1- and 3-positions and C18 unsaturated acid at the 2-position. A few of the Class III oils have trace amounts of estolides. The Class V oil triglycerides are mostly pentaacyl triglycerides and contain monestolide and small amounts of diestolide. Our triglyceride structure assignments were supported by1H nuclear magnetic resonance data and mass balances.

The triglyceride composition, structure, and presence of estolides in the oils ofLesquerella and related species

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/4253492.pdf

K.L. Mikolajczak

Papers

Penta-acid triglycerides of Chamaepeuce afra seed oil.

Cyanolipids of Stocksiabrahuica benth. Seed oil