Retene
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Retene | |
|---|---|
 |
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| IUPAC name | 7-Isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene |
| Other names | Retene |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [483-65-8] |
| PubChem | |
| SMILES | Cc3cccc2c1ccc (C(C)C)cc1ccc23 |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C18H18 |
| Molar mass | 234.33552 |
| Melting point |
98.5 °C |
| Boiling point |
390 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Retene, methyl isopropyl phenanthrene or 1-methyl-7-isopropyl phenanthrene, C18H18, is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon present in the coal tar fraction, boiling above 360 °C. It occurs naturally in the tars obtained by the distillation of resinous woods. It crystallizes in large plates, which melt at 98.5 °C and boil at 390 °C. It is readily soluble in warm ether and in hot glacial acetic acid. Sodium and boiling amyl alcohol reduce it to a tetrahydroretene, whilst if it be heated with phosphorus and hydriodic acid to 260 °C, a dodecahydride is formed. Chromic acid oxidizes it to retene quinone, phthalic acid and acetic acid. It forms a picrate which melts at 123-124 °C.
Retene is derived by degradation of specific diterpenoids biologically produced by conifer trees.
The presence of traces of retene in the air is an indicator of forest fires; it is a major product of pyrolysis of conifer trees.[1] It is also present in effluents from wood pulp and paper mills.[citation needed]
Retene, together with cadalene, simonellite and ip-iHMN, is a biomarker of higher plants, which makes it useful for paleobotanic analysis of rock sediments. Ratio of retene/cadalene in sediments can reveal the ratio of the genus Pinaceae in the biosphere.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Unsolved Mysteries of Human Health, Community Outreach and Education Program, Oregon State University
- ^ Y. Hautevelle, R. Michels, F. Malartre and A. Trouiller (2005). "Vascular plant biomarkers as ancient vegetation proxies and their stratigraphic use for tracing paleoclimatic changes during Jurassic in Western Europe" (abstract). Geophysical Research Abstracts 7: 10201.
