These pages were written by Dr William W. Christie and deal with the application of mass spectrometry with electron-impact ionization to determine the structures of fatty acids in the form of various derivatives.

If you are new to the subject, you may wish to first consult -

• A beginner's guide to mass spectrometry of fatty acids. Part 1.
• A beginner's guide to mass spectrometry of fatty acids. Part 2.

PDF files can be downloaded from a link at the end of documents to give you an instantly accessible or printable record.

Tutorials on the Interpretation of Mass Spectra of Fatty Acid Derivatives and Related Lipids

• Cyclopropyl/enyl fatty acids
• Cyclic fatty acids with 5/6-memberered rings
• Acetylenic acids. 1. Mono/diynes
• Acetylenic acids. 2. Ene-ynes
• Allenic fatty acids
• Oxygenated. 1A. 2- to 8-Hydroxy acids
• Oxygenated. 1B. 10- to ω-OH
• Oxygenated. 2. Epoxy, furanoid and alkoxy
• Oxygenated. 3. Oxo (keto)

• Thia acids
• Halogenated acids
• Dibasic acids
• Alkyl esters
• Fatty alcohols. 1. Nicotinates
• Fatty alcohols. 2. Other derivatives
• Miscellaneous lipophilic compounds (free acids, acetals, TMS esters, cholesterol, etc)
• Miscellaneous artefacts and additives

• Methyl esters of fatty acids - Archive
• Picolinyl esters - Archive
• DMOX derivatives - Archive

• Pyrrolidine derivatives - Archive
• Miscellaneous fatty acid derivatives, lipids, artefacts, etc - Archive

Bibliography of Mass Spectra: Lists of references to the use of mass spectrometry for structural analysis of fatty acids and for intact lipids - see our literature survey menu.

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