Many Eucalyptus waxes contain as major components long-chain β-diketones, which may be readily separated from the rest of the wax as insoluble copper complexes. The most commonly occurring β-diketone is n-tritriacontan-16,18-dione, but in two species, Eucalyptus risdoni and E. coccifera, β-diketones of shorter chain length predominate. From the waxes of several Eucalyptus species a new flavone, 5-hydroxy- 4',7-dimethoxy-6,8-dimethylflavone, and a new triterpene, 11,l2-dehydroursolic lactone acetate, have been isolated. Gas chromatography has been used to determine the chain length distribution of β-diketones, hydrocarbons, and esters from several waxes. The esterified alcohols of Eucalyptus globulus and E. risdoni belong to two series-long-chain n-alkan-1-ols of predominantly even carbon number, and n-alkan-2-ols of medium chain length and predominantly uneven carbon number (n-C9, n-C11, n-C13, and n-C15).

A quantitative analysis has been made of the composition of each of the classes of aliphatic constituents known to exist in hydrolysed wool wax. These classes consist of α-hydroxy acids, ω-hydroxy acids, alkanoic acids, monohydric alcohols, and α,β-diols. Each has been found to contain members of the normal, iso-, and anteiso-homologous series of compounds. The analysis was carried out by saponification of the wax and separation of the constituents into the above classes which were separately reduced to the corresponding hydrocarbon mixtures. The composition of these mixtures was determined by gas chromatographic separation.

S m r y A quantitative examination has been made of the components of hydrolysed beeswax.This was achieved by separation into hydrocarbons, monohydric alcohols, " diols ", acids, and hydroxyacids. The alcohol and acid fractions were reduced to the corresponding hydrocarbon mixtures and these together with the naturally occurring hydrocarbons were examined by gas chromatography, which demonstrated their straight-chain character and gave the chain lengths and percentage composition of the components.

The hydrolytic products of carnauba wax, previously shown to consist mainly of straight-chain alcohols, α,ω-diols, alkanoic acids, and ω-hydroxyalkanoic acids, have been reexamined by gas chromatographic methods to provide a qualitative and quantitative knowledge of the components. These components, shown to be almost entirely straight chain in character, are largely even carbon numbered compounds, but odd chain-lengths are present. The hydrocarbons are likewise of odd and even carbon number with the odd members (90%) predominating. An unidentified compound, possibly an unsaturated steroid diol, has been isolated from the unsaponifiable fraction.

Sugar-cane cuticle wax previously found to consist of long-chain aldehydes, alcohols, acids, and hydrocarbons (Lamberton and Redcliffe 1960) has been re-examined by gas chromatography to identify and estimate the individual constituents. The aldehydes, alcohols, and acids, all straight chain, are principally of even carbon number in each instance with the C28 member predominant, but appreciable amounts of odd carbon homologues are also present. The hydrocarbons are also of odd and even carbon number but with the odd members in greater amounts and n-heptacosane as the major hydrocarbon constituent.