Volatile compounds from ponerine ants in the genusMesoponera

Abstract

Volatile constituents have been characterized from two species of ponerine ants in the genusMesoponera. 2,5-Dimethyl-3-isopentyl-pyrazine has been identified from cephalic extracts ofM. castanea andM. castaneicolor, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Combined gasters and thoraces of both species are also characterized by the presence of nonanal, nonanoic acid, isovaleric acid, phenylacetic acid, and undecanal, as well as a series of aliphatic amines and amides.N-Isoamylnonylamine was a major constituent that was accompanied byN-isoamylnonenylamine,N,N-diisoamylnonylamine,N-acetyl nonylamine,N-formyl isoamylnonylamine,N-isovaleroyl nonylamine, and several other secondary and tertiary amines. The possible significance of the amines and amides as idiosyncratic natural products ofMesoponera species is discussed.

Fatty Amines from Little Black Ants, Monomorium minimum, and Their Biological Activities Against Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta

“…Searching by name or CAS number for both compounds using Chapman & Hall (Jones et al 1996) and (2Z)-farnesylamine in M. fieldi (Jones et al 2003). Although secondary and tertiary amines have been found in ponerine ants in the genus Mesoponera (Fales et al 1984), ants in the genus Monomorium appear to be the only established natural producers of primary amines. Since decylamine and dodecylamine were found in defense secretions collected by milking the ants, these compounds most likely are produced by venom and/or Dufour's glands.…”

Primary Tetradecenyl Amines from the Ant Monomorium floricola

“…Acyclic amines have been reported in ants of certain Mesoponera species, but in those cases, they were all secondary amines or their N-acyl derivatives, the carbon chains were odd-numbered, and many contained branched alkyl groups as isoamyl. 10 Experimental Section General Experimental Procedures. FTIR spectra were obtained using a Hewlett-Packard Model 5965B detector interfaces with a Hewlett-Packard 5890 gas chromatograph equipped with an HP-5 column.…”

“…Initial GC/MS analysis of the M. floricola extracts revealed the presence of compounds 1 and 2 in a 3:2 ratio, respectively, comprising nearly 95% of the detectable components in the extracts of both workers and queens. Compound 2: MS m/z 211 (5 [M] + ), 168 (10), 154 (30), 140 (5), 114 (14), 100 (7), 97 (6), 96 (9), 95 (14), 86 (11), 82 (13), 81 (21), 72 (9), 69 (20), 67 (27), 56 (38), 55 (78), 54 (21), 44 (46), 43 (31), 41 (100).…”

Alkaloids in Animals

“…10), wherea s thoracic and gaster extracts yie lded a series of secondary dialky lamine s and amides , of which N-isopentylnonylamine (75, Fig. 10) was the major component (Fales et al, 1984).…”