Identification of isomeric doxyl stearic acids by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Direct probe and GC/MS spectra were determined for the isomeric 4- to 16-doxyl stearic acids and their methyl and silyl esters in pure form and in mixture with natural fatty acids and their esters. The base peak for all free and esterified doxyl stearic acids was at m/e 281. The methyl esters of all isomers gave nearly identical fragments in the high mass regions having M+ at m/e 398 with intensities of 2-3%. The isomers were identified on the basis of the fragments retaining the doxyl group, which had positive charge and were different for each compound. It was shown that the fragment m/e 281 may be used to identify and quantitate the stearate derivatives in presence of natural fatty acids. The silyl esters of the doxyl stearates gave complex mass spectra. The isomeric doxyl stearates were resolved by GLC on 3 ft. glass columns containing 1% SE-30 packing as methyl esters.