STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF FATTY-ACIDS BY MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF PICOLINYL ESTERS AND DIMETHYLOXAZOLINE DERIVATIVES

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the picolinyl esters or 4,4-di methyloxazoline derivatives of fatty acids is a powerful technique for structural elucidation. A comparison of the mass spectral properties of both derivatives, of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly, and als o fatty acids with other functional groups, is presented. The preparat ion of the derivatives and applications to complex natural samples are also considered.