Novel Optically Active Hydrocarbons in Sediments: Evidence for an Extensive Biological Cyclization of Higher Regular Polyprenols

In sediments and Messel shale, a series of novel hydrocarbons has been identified. They can be considered as the cyclization products of regular all-trans polyprenols (up to C45!). These skeletons have not yet been found in living organisms. One of these “molecular fossils” (C33) is shown on the right.