ALKANES OFDIGITALIS PURPUREALEAVES

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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.

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