COMMENT ON THE ORIGIN OF BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACIDS IN PYROLYSIS METHYLATION STUDIES

The presence of benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters in thermochemolys is or pyrolysis products of humic acids, produced in the presence of t etramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), has recently been attributed to t he existence of benzenecarboxylic acid moieties in the original materi als being examined by this new technique for structural elucidation Ou r studies of wood and model compounds, materials free of carboxylic ac id-containing structures, by this method indicate that certain benzene carboxylic acids are produced by the TMAH reagent in the course of rea ction at elevated temperatures. This indicates that one should exercis e due caution in interpreting the presence of these benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters as pre-existing structural humic acids.