Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of cyclic fatty acid monomers isolated from heated fats.

The analysis of hydrogenated cyclic fatty acid monomers isolated from heated linseed and sunflower oils is achieved by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of their pentafluorobenzyl esters. Collisionally activated dissociation of the carboxylate anions produced by electron-capture ionization shows remote charge-site fragmentation that allows location of cyclopentane and cyclohexane rings by examining the resulting mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra. Oxidative ozonolysis of the methyl esters of the unsaturated cyclic fatty acid monomers allows location of some double bonds. However, preliminary results obtained with remote charge fragmentation of synthetic unsaturated models make this approach an alternative for double bond location in the cyclic fatty acid monomers isolated from heated fats.