The geological fate of chlorophyll: the absolute stereochemistries of a series of acyclic isoprenoid acids in a 50 million year old lacustrine sediment

Abstract

Determination of the absolute stereochemistries of the major acyclic isoprenoid-type acids in a sediment of Eocene age (the Green River Shale, Colorado, ca. 50 × 10⁶ years) by g.l.c. analysis of the methyl and (–)methyl esters, indicates that the phytyl side chain of chlorophyll is the major ultimate precursor of the acids.