Ethoxy homologues of ubiquinone-50 formed during alkali treatment

Abstract Unless care is taken in the selection of the method of treatment of animal tissue for ubiquinone analysis considerable loss of ubiquinone can occur due to the formation of ethoxy homologues. Saponification mixtures containing the minimum quantity of water should be used and the refluxing carried out for as short a time as possible. The ethoxy homologues of ubiquinone can readily be separated from ubiquinone using thin-layer chromatography.