BMF 7 - Norhopanes
Pentacyclic triterpanes of the hopane type are ubiquitous constituents of sedimentary organic matter. Crude oils and mature sediments usually contain a predominance of hopanes with 17(H),21(H)-skeletal configurations. However, a number of rearranged (Biomarker Focus 35), demethylated hopanes (Norhopanes) and methylated hopanes are present in diagnostic quantities for geochemical and oil spill (environmental forensics) applications. A related, but less common, group of hopanes with n-alkane side chain (the 30-nor series) is also widely distributed.
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