Identification of very-long-chain acids from peat and coals by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Long-chain syn-1-phenylalkane-1,3-diyl diacetates, related phenylalkane derivatives, and sec-alcohols, all possessing dominantly iso-branched chain termini, and 2/3-methyl-branched fatty acids from Primula veris L. (Primulaceae) wax

Herein, the results of the first study of non-flavonoid constituents of aboveground surface-wax washings of Primula veris L. (Primulaceae) are presented. Chromatography of the washings yielded a minor fraction composed of n-, iso-, and anteiso-series of long-chained syn-1-phenylalkane-1,3-diyl diacetates, 3-oxo-1-phenylalkan-1-yl acetates, 1-phenylalkane-1,3-diones, 1-hydroxy-1-phenylalkan-3-ones, sec-alcohols (2- to 10-alkanols), and n-, iso-, anteiso-, 2-methylalkanoic and 3-methylalkanoic acids; 118 of these constituents represent up to now unreported natural compounds. The structural/stereochemical elucidation was accomplished by the synthesis of authentic standards, derivatization reactions, the use of gas chromatographic retention data and detailed 1D and 2D-NMR analyses of the obtained complex chromatographic fraction. Primula veris produces unusually high amounts of branched long-chained metabolites (>60%) except for the fatty acids where the percentage of branched isomers is comparable to the ones with n-chains. Noteworthy is the fact that long-chained α- and β-methyl substituted fatty acids were detected herein for the first time in the kingdom Plantae.

Coal is a potential source of naphthenic acids in groundwater

Naphthenic acids, with the general formula C(n)H(2n+Z)O(2), are found in conventional petroleums and oil sands ores. These acids are toxic to aquatic life, so their discharge from petroleum processing into receiving waters must be avoided. In a previous study, naphthenic acids were putatively identified in groundwaters from two domestic wells that were distant from petroleum sources. However, coal deposits were near these wells. In this study, waters from the two wells were extracted and analyzed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to unequivocally confirm the presence of naphthenic acids and other organic acids. In addition, distilled water was percolated through three crushed coal samples and the leachates were shown to contain a variety of organic acids, including naphthenic acids. These results clearly demonstrate that coal is a source of naphthenic acids and that the naphthenic acids can leach into groundwaters. Thus, the presence of naphthenic acids in waters cannot be solely attributed to petroleum or petroleum industry activities.