BEHAVIOR OF CATECHIN AND ELLAGIC ACID SUBJECTED TO THERMALLY-ASSISTEDHYDROLYSIS METHYLATION GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Catechin and ellagic acid, two basic constituents of important natural polyphenols such as condensed tannins and ellagitannins, were subject ed to thermally-assisted hydrolysis-methylation in the presence of tet ramethylammonium hydroxide (25% aq.). The reaction was carried out at 600 degrees C for 5s using a platinum filament pyrolyzer which, in tur n, was connected to a gas chromatograph/ion trap detector mass spectro meter. The permethylated compounds determined in the pool of the react ion products suggest that the reaction occurring is different from a s imple methylation of free hydroxyls after thermal degradation and enta ils thermal fission of different bonds than those involved in conventi onal pyrolysis or chemical hydrolysis as the main decomposition pathwa y. The mass spectra of the permethylated hydrolysis products of catech in and ellagic acid are of practical use in the analysis of plant mate rials containing condensed tannins and ellagitannins.