NATURE OF TERPENOIDS OF A TAXODIOXYLON-GYPSACEUM FROM THE FOSSIL FOREST OF DUNAROBBA (ITALY)

A specimen from the fossil forest of Dunarobba (Central Italy) attribu ted to Taxodioxylon gypsaceum was chemically analyzed particularly for its terpene content. Main chemical constituents show variations relat ed to ageing and carbonization process, while terpene content exhibits a drop of mono- and sesquiterpenes in favour of diterpenes and higher MW compounds. All components are exclusively hydrocarbons and represe nt alicyclic or partially aromatic structures. The identified families include abietane, phyllocladane, norabietane and norpimarane among di terpenes and traces of cadinane and selinane among sesquiterpenes.