IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF DIHYDRO-AR-CURCUMENE ENANTIOMERS AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS IN PETROLEUM

Isodihydro-ar-curcumene [1-(1,5-dimethylhexyl)-3-methylbenzene] has be en identified in petroleum using GC-MS techniques by comparing its ret ention time and mass spectrum with the same parameters from a referenc e compound. It co-occurs in crude oil with dihydro-ar-curcumene and is suggested to originate from this compound via a sedimentary rearrange ment process. Enantiomers of both compounds have also been shown to oc cur in crude oils using chiral GC-MS techniques. The elution order of the enantiomers has been established using reference compounds of know n configuration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.