ALKANES OF DIGITALIS PURPUREA LEAVES

Abstract

The steryl ester fraction of Digitalis purpurea isolated by column chromatography was contaminated with alkanes. After saponification and further separation, the alkanes were isolated as saturated and mono–unsaturated fractions. The paraffins were separated by gas–liquid–chromatography and identified by mass–spectrometry. The saturated paraffins consisted of straight chain alkanes from C₁₂ to C₃₄, the odd numbered C₃₃, C₃₁ and C₂₉ compounds forming the bulk of the mixture. Branched chain isomers were also present predominantly occurring as odd numbered alkanes. Fewer compounds were present in the mono–unsaturated fraction, these being mainly odd numbered high molecular weight straight chain compounds. The distribution of alkanes tends to favour the head to head condensation pathway as the mode of biosynthesis.