PETROPORPHYRINS-III. CHARACTERISATION OF A C32 AETIOPORPHYRIN FROM GILSONITE AS THE BISMERCURY(II) COMPLEX. ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(80)80199-2

A C₃₂ aetio porphyrin isolated from Gilsonite bitumen (ca. 60 million yr) was assigned unambiguously as aetioporphyrin-III by 1H NMR analysis of its bismercury(II) complex and by comparison with an authentic sample.The occurrence of this compound provides the first direct evidence that the petroporphyrins of Gilsonite are the product of reductive degradation of naturally-occurring chlorophylls, and conversion of the chlorin to the porphyrin system.