NOVEL SERIES OF TRICYCLIC AROMATIC TERPANES CHARACTERIZED IN TASMANIAN TASMANITE

A novel series of tricyclic ring-C monoaromatic terpanes and a minor group of tricyclic diaromatic terpanes were characterized in Tasmanian tasmanite. The monoaromatic series ranges from C18 to C40 with a homolog distribution pattern similar to the geologically ubiquitous tricyclic terpane series. The diaromatic compounds are comprised of the C-17-C18 homologs. The occurrence of these aromatic compounds in an immature sediment (R(o) = 0.3-0.4%) indicates an early diagenetic origin or possibly a direct biological input. The implications of these findings to the search for the precursors of these biomarkers is discussed. A minor series of aromatic des-A-triterpenoid hydrocarbons from biodegraded terrestrial lipids is also present.