Identification and analysis of dihydro-ar-curcumene enantiomers and related compounds in petroleum

Isodihydro-ar-curcumene [1-(1,5-dimethylhexyl)-3-methylbenzene] has been identified in petroleum using GC-MS techniques by comparing its retention time and mass spectrum with the same parameters from a reference compound. It co-occurs in crude oil with dihydro-ar-curcumene and is suggested to originate from this compound via a sedimentary rearrangement process. Enantiomers of both compounds have also been shown to occur in crude oils using chiral GC-MS techniques. The elution order of the enantiomers has been established using reference compounds of known configuration.