The ldentification of High Molecular Weight Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Biologically Active Fraction of Cigarette Smoke Condensate

A gel filtration chromatography method was developed for the isolation and concentration of the high molecular weight polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contained in the most biologically active fraction of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). The unusually complex mixture of large PAH found in CSC necessitated the use of preparative gas chromatography followed by high-pressure liquid chromatography to achieve separation and identification. Mass spectral, ultra-violet absorption, and chromatographic retention data were needed for the comprehensive identification of the large molecular weight PAH components of CSC. The majority of the more than 200 isolated compounds were identified. Compounds newly identified in CSC included 3,4-dimethylenepyrene, 3,4-trimethylenepyrene, cyclopenta(c,-d)pyrene, 4,5-methylenetriphenylene, benzo[b]perylene, and several dibenzofluoranthenes.