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Solvent systems commonly used in lichenology for chemotaxonomy identification

Solvent system A: benzene:dioxane:acetic acid (90:25:4; 238 mL)

Solvent system B: hexane:ethyl ether:formic acid (5:4:1; 200 mL)

Solvent system C: toluene:acetic acid (85:15; 240 mL)

solvent system.png

How to interpret the table below (from Culberson, C. F., & Kristinsson, H.-D. (1970). A standardized method for the identification of lichen products. Journal of Chromatography A, 46, 85–93. doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(00)83967-9)

Solvent A Rf
Solvent B Rf
Solvent C Rf
Compounds
Spot coloration with H2SO4 and heat, (*), pigmentation, color reactions, etc.
4
6
4-5
anziaic
Yellow*; C+
4
6
5
4-o-demethylbarbatic
Yellow*; C+
4
6
5-6
divaricatic
Yellow*
4
6
5-6
diffractaic
Yellow*
4
6
5-6
barbatic
Yellow*
4
6
6
sekikaic
Brown*
4
6
6
homosekikaic
Yellow-brown*
4
6-7
6
didymic
Pinkish gray*; C+ blue-green
4
7
6
imbricaric
Yellow*
4
7
6
stenosporic
Yellow*
4
7
6
perlatolic
Yellow*
4
7
6
sphaerophorin
Yellow*
4-5
5
5
microphyllinic
Pale*; KC+
4-5
5
6
unknown triterpene (?)
Brownish*; UV-
5
5
2-3
orcinol
Yellow*; C+
5
5
3
rhodophyscin
Pigment; greenish*; K+
5
5
3
norlobaridone
Geenish*; KC+
5
5
5
cryptochlorophaeic
Brown*; (K+),( C+), LC+
5
5
5-6
confluentic
Yellow*
5
5
6
planaic
Yellow*
5
5
6
unknown with usnic
Greenish*
5
5-6
6
merochlorophaeic
Purple*; K+, KC+, (C+)
5
6-7
5
thiophanic
yellowish pigment
5-6
5-6
6
zeorin
pink or pale brown*; UV-
5-6
6
6
ergosterol
Brown*
5-6
6
6
ursolic
Bright lavender*; UV-
5-6
6
6
emodin
Yellowish pigment; K+; UV+++
1
1
1
Rhodocladonia
red pigment; K+
1
2-3
2
protocetraric
dark gray*; PD+
1
3
2
fumarprotocetraric acid
dark gray*; PD+
1
3
2
thamnolic acid
Brownish*; PD+
2
1
1-2
constictic
Orange-brown*; PD+
2
1-2
1
erythrin
Yellow*; C+
2
2
2
salazinic
Yellow*; K+, PD+
2
3
2
polyporic
Brownish pigment; pale*; K+
2
3
2
unknown with stictic
Reddish gray*
2
3
3
hypothamnolic
Greenish*; K+, C+
2
3
3
squamatic
Yellow*; UV+++
2
4
2
endocrocin
Orange pigment; K+
2
4
2
diploschistesic
C+ blue
2
4
2
siphulin
C+ red
2
4-5
3
physodalic
dark gray*; PD+
2
4-5
3
haemathamnolic
Yellow*; PD+
2
5
2
pulvinic
Yellow pigment; UV+ orange
2
5
2
unknown with psoromic
Greenish*
2
5
2-3
barbatolic
Yellow*; K+, PD+
2-3
4-5
3
umbilicaric
Yellow*
3
2
2
unknown with stictic
Yellow*; PD+
3
2
2
variolaric
Yellow or gray*
3
2
3
stictic
Orange-yellow*; PD+
3
2-3
3
echinocarpic
Reddish gray*; PD+
3
3
3
galbinic
Deep yellow*; PD+
3
3
5-6
unknown triterpene
Brownish ; UV-
3
4-5
3
alectoronic
Pale*; KC+, UV+++
3
5
3
hypoprotocetraric
Greenish brown or gray*
3
5
3
physodic
Geenish*; KC+
3
5
3
gyrophoric
yellow or gray*; C+
3
5
3
lecanoric
Yellow*; C+
3
5
4-5
lividic
Greenish or green-brown*
3
5
5
lobaric
Pale green*; KC+
3
5
5
virensic
Gray black*; PD+, K+
3
5
5
baeomycesic
Yellow*; PD+
3
5
5
psoromic
deep yellow or brown*; PD+
5-6
5
4-o-methylgyrophoric acid
Yellow*
3
6
5
evernic
Yellow*
3
6
5
grayanic
Brownish*; PD+
3-4
5
3
olivetoric
Yellow*; C+
3-4
5-6
4
alectorialic
Brown*; C+, KC+, PD+
4
1-3
1-4
entothein
Pigment; pale streak*
4
3
3
strepsilin
Pale*; C+ green
4
4
4
norstictic
Yellow*; K+, PD+
4
5
3
orsellinic
Yellow*; C+
4
5
4-5
paludosic
Brownish*; K+, KC+, (C+)
4
5
5
alpha-collatolic
Pale*; KC+
4
5
5
glomelliferic
Yellow*; KC+
4
5
5-6
boninic
Brownish purple*
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