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

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.