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Science 13 April 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4389, pp. 169 - 171
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4389.169
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Articles

Head-to-Head Linked Isoprenoid Hydrocarbons in Petroleum

J. MICHAEL MOLDOWAN 1 and WOLFGANG K. SEIFERT 1

1 Chevron Oil Field Research Company, Post Office Box 1627, Richmond, California 94802

A series of petroleum isoprenoid hydrocarbons possessing an unusual head-to-head linkage is present as an important component in petroleum. The entire series appears to be produced by diagenesis or catagenesis from precursors containing 40 carbon atoms. A suitable precursor compound has been reported in one type of living organism, thermoacidophile bacteria.

Submitted on October 27, 1978
Revised on December 18, 1978


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