Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments
Published on: October 2, 2012
Distributions of C22-C30 even-carbon-number n-alkanes in Ocean Anoxic Event 1 samples from the Basque-Cantabrian
R Chaler1, C Dorronsoro, J O Grimalt
1Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Abstract:
The Ocean Anoxic Event 1 (OAE-1) in central sites of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin exhibits very reducing depositional conditions of sedimentation. These sedimentation events have left a distinct mixture of hydrocarbons that are represented by C22-C30 n-alkanes with a predominance of the even-carbon-number homologues, high relative proportions of squalane and C16-C24 n-alkylcyclopentanes predominated by n-undecyl-, n-tridecyl- and n-pentadecylcyclopentane. Other minor compounds encompass a series of C18-C21 n-alkylcyclohexanes and C18-C24 dimethyl n-alkylcyclohexanes maximized by the even-carbon-number homologues as well as iso- and anteiso-alkanes. This unusual distribution of n-alkanes in this environment provides a new case for comparison with previously reported hypersaline and phosphorite sedimentary deposits where the occurrence of similar n-alkane distributions was reported. In the present case, these major n-alkanes and squalane are indicative of transformation under strong reducing conditions. In contrast, the occurrence of the alkylcyclopentanes, irrespective of the presence of even-carbon-number n-alkanes or squalane, suggests that reductive cyclization of fatty acids is less dependent on strong reducing conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Structure of Alkanes
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds composed of carbons and hydrogens. Based on the bond order between carbons, the hydrocarbons are further classified into alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.
Alkanes are the simplest hydrocarbons with sp3 hybrid carbon atoms. These sp3...
Constitutional Isomers of Alkanes
The linear isomer of an alkane is prefixed by the term “n”; hence a linear isomer of pentane is known as n-pentane. Based on the type of branching, some of the branched isomers are given...
Nomenclature of Alkanes
The alkane nomenclature considers the length of the carbon chain, the number, and the location of the substituent to arrive at its systematic name. The IUPAC...
Physical Properties of Alkanes
Mass Spectrometry: Long-Chain Alkane Fragmentation
Mass Spectrometry: Branched Alkane Fragmentation

