STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF GUDAO ASPHALTENE BY RUTHENIUM ION CATALYZED OXIDATION

Structural characterization of Gudao asphaltene was undertaken by usin g ruthenium ion catalyzed oxidation (RICO) which is capable of convert ing aromatic carbons selectively to carbon dioxide and/or carboxylic g roups while leaving aliphatic and alicyclic structures essentially una ffected. The oxidation products were dominated by a homologous series of straight chain monocarboxylic acids (C-2 similar to C-35 ) indicati ng that normal alkyl chains are important constituents of the asphalte ne. A series of alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acids (C-4 similar to C-26)we re also detected and determined confirming the presence of polymethyle ne moieties linking two aromatic units. Relative high yields of benzen epenta- and hexacarboxylic acids formed ire the RICO of Gudao asphalte ne clearly indicate that substantial aromatic structures of this aspha ltene are peri-condensed.