1H-NMR SPECTROSCOPY OF FATTY ACIDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES


Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)


Figures 1 to 3 depict the 1H-NMR spectra of three conjugated linoleic acid methyl esters, namely three isomers of methyl 9,11-octadecadienoate [cis,cis- (9Z,11Z); trans,trans- (9E,11E); cis,trans- (9Z,11E), respectively] that can serve as models for other CLA esters.

NMR spectrum of methyl 9-cis,11-cis-octadecadienoate

Figure 1. 1H-NMR spectrum of methyl 9(Z),11(Z)-octadecadienoate.


The characteristic shifts are relative to deuterochloroform (CDCl3) at 7.295 ppm and are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Assignments of characteristic signals in the spectra of 9,11-octadecadienoic acid isomers (see Figures 1 to 3):

Allylic protons (C8, C13) C9 C10 C11 C12
9Z,11Z 2.08 5.47 6.27 6.27 5.47
9E,11E 2.20 5.59 6.03 6.03 5.59
9Z,11E 2.18 (cis), 2.13 (trans) 5.32 5.97 6.34 5.69

NMR spectrum of methyl 9-trans,11-trans-octadecadienoate

Figure 2. 1H-NMR spectrum of methyl 9(E),11(E)-octadecadienoate.


NMR spectrum of methyl 9-cis,11-trans-octadecadienoate

Figure 3. 1H-NMR spectrum methyl 9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoate.


The "inner" olefinic protons at C10 and C11 are shifted downfield compared to the "outer" olefinic protons at C9 and C12. Also, in accordance with the above discussion on the oleic acid vs. elaidic acid, the trans olefinic protons are downfield from the cis protons in the two sets, external and internal protons. Similarly, the signals of the allylic protons of the cis isomers are downfield from the trans isomers, especially visible in the spectrum of the mixed Z,E isomer. In the case of identical double bond configuration, the signals of the two internal olefinic protons overlap as do the signals of the two external olefinic protons.

The 1H-NMR analysis of the compounds depicted here was also described in the literature (Lie Ken Jie et al., 1997; Lie Ken Jie, 2001). The corresponding data (also CDCl3, 300 MHz) are:

Literature:



Gerhard Knothe

National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, USA


Updated: 16/1/2006

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