[tenchan]

Hi!  

I did a thin layer chromatographic analysis of aniseed oil, but I unfortunately do not have access to a reference standard chromatogram.    I'm trying to determine the approximate theoretical distances the constituents would travel based on their polarities.  I've found what aniseed oil theoretically contains and I've also researched their structures.  Those structures I couldn't find, I tried to draw based on their IUPAC name.  There's a .gif file attached to this post which contains the structures.  My polarity-determining skills seem to be a bit rusty, but here's my "guess" at the compounds' polarities...

From least to greatest polarity:
sesquiterpene hydrocarbon < chavicol methyl ether / anethole (can't decide which is more polar of the two) < anisic aldehyde < p-methoxyphenylacetone < anisic acid < safrole

I have no idea where 2-(2'-Methyl)butyrate-5-methoxy-trans-propenylbenzene fits in that sequence. ^^;  I'm not sure about its structure either...

I also feel I made a lot of errors in ordering them that way...so if anyone could please, please help in determining their relative polarities, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks in advance!