Acetylenic acids ofAlvaradoa amorphoides seed oil

Abstract

Oil from the seed ofAlvaradoa amorphoides Liebm. (Simaroubaceae) collected in Mexico contains two acetylenic fatty acids previously unknown in seed oils, 15% of 17-octadecen-6-ynoic and a trace amount of 6-eicosynoic acid. The predominant fatty acid (58%) in the oil is 6-octadecynoic (tariric). Both the δ6 and δ9 series of hexadecenoic, octadecenoic, octadecadienoic, and octadecatrienoic acids were found, but only the δ6 isomer of eicosenoic acid (1.4%) was detectec. The mono- and dienoic acids make up about 19% of the total oil. The remainder consists mostly of saturated acids (6.3%). Techniques used in isolation and identification of the acids included thin layer and gas chromatography, IR, UV, NMR and mass spectroscopy, and ozonolysis coupled with gas chromatography.