Free and bound hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in the cutin of Quercus suber leaves

The number of free and bound hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the cutin of Quercus suber leaves was investigated by the lithium borohydride hydrogenolysis of mesyl-cutin compared with the lithium borohydride hydrogenolysis of untreated cutin. Fifty per cent of the vic-diol groups of the trihydroxy C18 acid component and twenty five per cent of the secondary hydroxyl groups of the dihydroxy C16 acid component are free. The rest of the secondary and all of the primary hydroxyl groups are esterified; all carboxyl groups are esterified.