The Volatile Alcohols of Ripe Bananas

SUMMARY The volatile alcohols in ripe bananas were identified in preparation for the study of their biosynthesis. The following 13 alcohols were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry supported in some cases by IR spectral data: ethanol, propan-l-01, P-methylpropan-l-01, butan-l-01, pentan-2–01, 3-methylbutan-l-01, hexan-l-01, heptan-2–01, cis and tram hex-3-en-l-01, cis and traws hex-4-en-l-01, and cis pent-2-en-l-01 (tentative). 2-Methylbutan-l-01 was shown to be associated with 3-methylbutan-l-01 in a ratio of 1:200.