Determination and quantification of alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated aldehydes as pentafluorobenzyl-oxime derivates in diatom cultures and natural phytoplankton populations: application in marine field studies

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoll-Str. 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany. Reactive alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated aldehydes and oxo-acids produced by marine diatoms upon cell damage interfere negatively with the reproduction success of their grazers. A simple, sensitive and specific method based on gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (EI or CI/EC) was developed for the quantification of these deleterious substances in laboratory diatom cultures and in natural phytoplankton populations. For aldehyde quantification, diatom containing samples are damaged in the presence of O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA.HCl) which leads to an in situ derivatisation without inhibition of the biosynthesis of the aldehydes. The oxime derivates of oxo-acids were in addition reacted with N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyl-trifluoracetamide (MTBSTFA).