Unusual oxygenated cations in electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy of polyprenols from Jatropha curcas L.

Lutein (1), decaprenol (2a) and undecaprenol (2b) were isolated from the air dried leaves of Jatropha curcas L. Positive ion electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy of decaprenol and undecaprenol produced a series of oxygen adduct molecular ions of general formula [CSOH820 xNat and [CSSH900xNat respectively, where x = 1 to 9. Weak dimeric oxygenated adduct ions were also observed. Electron impact mass spectroscopy produced normal molecular and fragment ions.