Bacteriohopanetetrol from chemical degradation of an oil shale kerogen

Abstract

Microbial lipids play an important role in the formation of geologically derived organic matter1. Among these lipids the hopanoids have a key function as they show an almost ubiquitous occurrence in sediments and fossil fuels2. In this report we have obtained bacteriohopanetetrol, the well-known presumptive precursor of most fossil hopanoids, by catalytic hydrogenolysis of the Messel oil shale kerogen (Eocene, 50 x 106 yr). The existence of chemically bonded biohopanoids in an Eocene kerogen supports the idea of incorporation of intact biological structures into high molecular weight organic matter of geological origin. Selective chemical degradation is, therefore, a valuable tool in the structural characterization of polymeric organic matter in the sedimentary environment.