Macrocyclic-alkanes: a new class of biomarker

A new class of cyclic hydrocarbon biomarker, macrocyclic-alkanes and their methylated analogues, have for the first time been unambiguously identified in a Botryococcus braunii rich sediment (torbanite). The compounds, consisting of a homologous series of macrocyclic-alkanes (ranging from C15 to C34) and their methylated derivatives (ranging from C17 to C26), were identified by using authentic standards and GC–MS techniques.