Analysis of autoxidized fats by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. IX. Homolytic vs. Heterolytic cleavage of primary and secondary oxidation products

To elucidate the genesis of volatile lipid oxidation products, thermal homolytic and acid heterolytic decomposition processes were compared. Secondary oxidation products were decomposed thermally (200 C), and the volatiles formed were identified by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Oxidation products also were decomposed in the presence of HCl-methanol, and the resulting dimethyl acetals were identified by GC-MS. The volatile thermal decomposition products were those expected by homolytic β-scission on both sides of the hydroperoxide group. No dialdehydes were identified under our thermal decomposition conditions. In contrast, the acetals formed by acid decomposition were those expected by selective heterolytic scission between the hydroperoxide group and the allylic double bond. Dialdehydes identified from acid decomposition of cyclic peroxides and dihydroperoxides included malonaldehyde and 2,4-hexadienedial.