Synthesis and analysis of phytyl and phytenoyl wax esters

An efficient procedure for preparing phytenic acid methyl ester, free of isomers, from phytol is reported. Phytyl phytenate and other isoprenoid wax esters were synthesized. Gas liquid chromatography of these wax esters and other compounds related to phytol and phytenic acid is described. The alkyl constituents of isoprenoid wax esters can be analyzed after alkaline methanolysis and the acyl constituents after acidic methanolysis. The applicability of these methods to natural mixtures was demonstrated with wax esters from mosses which contained both types of isoprenoids and with wax esters from healthy and frost damaged grass which contained phytol, but not phytenic acid.