IR,H-1 AND C-13 NMR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF SUBERIN FROM BEECH BARKS(FAGUS-SYLVATICA L)

Suberin was extracted from beech barks (Fagus sylvatica L.) with a mix ture of dioxane and water (9 : 1, v/v) solution). The recovered materi al after precipitating the lignin with ethyl ether, was labelled as su berin. After depolymerization of this material with 14% BF3 in dry met hanol, gas chromatography analysis of the resulted compounds showed th e presence of fatty acids, phenolic acids and aldehydes, and proved th at it contains suberin. IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopic examination s of the extracted suberin revealed the presence of both aliphatic pro tons and carbons from phenylpropenoid units. These spectra confirmed t he depolymerization results and corresponded to the model of suberin p roposed by Kolattukudy (1981).