Identification of novel sulfur-containing steroids in sediments and petroleum: Probable incorporation of sulfur into Delta(5,7)-sterols during early diagenesis

A novel sulfur-containing sterane, 4 alpha,7 alpha-epithio-5 beta-cholestan e: has been identified in a sediment extract from the Miocene Northern Apen nines marl (Italy) after its isolation by column chromatography and high pr essure Liquid chromatography. The compound has been characterised by GC-MS and mild Nickel boride desulfurisation and one and two-dimensional H-1 NMR techniques. C-27-C-29 homologs have been detected in sediment extracts of t hree different formations and in one petroleum sample. These sulfur-contain ing steroids are probably formed by an intramolecular reaction of inorganic sulfides with early diagenetic products of Delta(5,7)-sterols. Copyright ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.