Journal of Applied Chemical Science International

Chemical substances were extracted with petroleum ether from the abdominal glands of black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) and nineteen compounds were characterised using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique in combination with Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (22.28%) and hexadecanoic acid (19.12%) constituted the bulk of the compounds. Other compounds identified were decane (1.45%), undecane (2.50%), dodecane (3.67%), 2,9-dimethyldecane (252%), 2,6,11-trimethyldodecane (1.44%), (8E)-8-heptadecene (1.66%), 2,6-dimethylheptadecane (0.90%), 9-heptadecanone (3.04%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (2.24%), 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (7.48 %), octadecanoic acid methyl ester (1.90%), octadecanoic acid (6.47%), hexadecanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (4.20%), E-2-octadecadecen-1-ol (3.74 %), 2-methyl-Z,Z-3,13-octadecadienol (7.69%), tetradecyl-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanoate (2.25%) and 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethyl octasiloxane (5.47%). FT-IR analysis of the extract showed peaks at 1166.97, 1453.41, 1638.58, 2861.49, 2927.08 and 3425.69 cm-1 indicating the presence of alcohol, ether, ester, fluorinated ether, alkane and alkene compounds. These compounds constituted 47.87% fatty acid, 14.14% hydrocarbons, 11.62% ester, 11.43% alcohol, 5.47% siloxane, 4.20% alcoholic ester, 3.04% ketone and 2.25% fluorinated ester. These compounds were compared with other compounds which have been reported as pheromones in other insects, and there were similarities.