Yeo H C, Shibamoto T
Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis 95616.
Lipids. 1992 Jan;27(1):50-3. doi: 10.1007/BF02537059.
Formaldehyde and malonaldehyde were identified upon exposure of squalene to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at 300 nm. Formaldehyde was derivatized by reaction with cysteamine to form thiazolidine; malonaldehyde was derivatized by reaction with N-methylhydrazine to produce N-methylpyrazole. The derivatives were subsequently analyzed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a fused silica capillary column and a nitrogen/phosphorus detector. The levels of formaldehyde and malonaldehyde produced increased with irradiation time. The amount of formaldehyde produced reached a maximum of 3.40 nmol/mg squalene after 7 hr irradiation; the maximum amount of malonaldehyde generated, 0.92 nmol/mg, was found after 5 hr of irradiation. Prior to this study, formaldehyde had not been reported as a photoproduct of squalene. Acetaldehyde and acetone were also detected in the irradiated squalene, which may be formed via a 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one intermediate. 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one can also undergo breakdown to form malonaldehyde.
