Autoxidation of chlorophyll phytyl side chain in senescent phototrophic organisms: A potential source of isophytol in the environment

Jean-Francois Rontani (1) , Marie Aimee Galeron (1)

1 MIO - Institut méditerranéen d'océanologie

In this short paper, it is demonstrated that autoxidation (free radical induced oxidation) of the chlorophyll phytyl side chain in senescent phytoplanktonic cells and higher plants constitutes a potential source of isophytol (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-1-en-3-ol) in the environment.To explain the formation of this isoprenoid alcohol, mechanisms involving the formation of the precursor 3-peroxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-1-ene are proposed.

Mots clés: Isophytol; Chlorophyll phytyl side-chain; Autoxidation; Phytoplankton; Higher plants; Senescence

Domaines: Milieux et Changements globaux

Jean-Francois Rontani, Marie Aimee Galeron. Autoxidation of chlorophyll phytyl side chain in senescent phototrophic organisms: A potential source of isophytol in the environment. Organic Geochemistry, 2016, 97, pp.35-40. ⟨10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.03.008⟩. ⟨hal-01438753⟩