Cannabinoids with a propyl side chain in cannabis: occurrence and chromatographic behavior

Neutral cannabinoids with a pentyl side chain-for example, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and cannabinol-are generally accompanied by homologs with a propyl side chain, of which at least one has psychotropic activity. Samples of hashish and marihuana from Asia especially sometimes have abundant amounts of propyl cannabinoids, the quantities being of the same order as that of the accompanying pentyl cannabinoids. Detection and identification of the propyl and pentyl cannabinoids in gas chromatography and thin-layer chromatography is discussed.