Thermally assisted transmethylation gas chromatography mass spectrometry of suberin components in cork from Quercus suber L

Thermally assisted transmethylation gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with tetramethylammonium hydroxide has been applied for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the suberin fraction of wax-free cork. With this method, hydrolysis of esters together with methylation of carboxylic and hydroxylic groups was observed. Mostly long chain aliphatic components, such as alkanols, alkanoic acids, omega-hydroxyacids, alpha,omega-alkanoic diacids, and several 9,10-epoxy and 9,10-dihydroxy forms have been found in keeping with results of other workers in the field. Two other components that may give a more complete view of the architecture of suberin were also found, namely the phenolic compound ferulic acid, and glycerol which is probably esterified to carboxylic groups of the aliphatic building units of suberin. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.