Synthesis of triaromatic steroid hydrocarbons methylated at position 2, 3 or 6: molecular fossils of yet unknown biological origin

Eric Lichtfouse (1) , Pierre Albrecht (2)

1 ASD - Agronomy for Sustainable Development
2 Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg

C21-29 triaromatic steroid hydrocarbons bearing a methyl group at unusual positions 2, 3 or 6 have been synthesized from pregnenolone, cholesterol or stigmasterol via stera-3,5-dienes. Their occurrence in various sedimentary rocks and petroleums suggests the presence of yet unknown biological precursors.

Mots clés: triaromatic steroid; synthesis; petroleum; maturity; sediment; pregnenolone; stigmaterol; cholesterol; molecular fossil

Domaines: Chimie organique; Chimie analytique; Géochimie

Eric Lichtfouse, Pierre Albrecht. Synthesis of triaromatic steroid hydrocarbons methylated at position 2, 3 or 6: molecular fossils of yet unknown biological origin. Tetrahedron, 1994, 50, pp.1731-1744. ⟨10.1016/S0040-4020(01)80848-6⟩. ⟨hal-00175800⟩