NOVEL UNSATURATED TRITERPENOID HYDROCARBONS FROM SEDIMENTS OF SACRED-LAKE, MT-KENYA, KENYA

A novel family of three isoprenoidal hydrocarbons (1-3), a C34H64 and two C33H60, have been isolated from lacustrine sediment deposited 5000 -18,000 yrs BP (C-14 dating) and their structures and stereochemistry determined from the interpretation of 1D and 2D H-1 and C-13 NMR and m ass spectral data as well as degradation by ozonolysis. These compound s are attributed to algae, based on their close structural relationshi p with botryococcenes and other isoprenoidal hydrocarbons produced by the green microalga Botryococcus braunii. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd