Formation of Hydrocarbons of the Adamantane Series from Modern and Ancient Fossilized Resins (Ambers) of Coniferous Trees

The thermolysis and thermocatalytic conversion of modern and ancient resins (amber) of coniferous trees were carried out. It was established that protoadamantanes were formed upon the thermolysis of both ancient and young resins of coniferous trees, while C 10 –C 14 adamantanes found in oils were formed upon thermal catalysis. It was found that thermodynamically weakly stable hydrocarbons of the adamantane series were predominantly formed as a result of the isomerization of protoadamantanes present in the resins (both modern and fossil) of coniferous trees; then, these hydrocarbons were isomerized into thermodynamically more stable isomers. The amount of di- and trimethyladamantanes generated in the products of thermocatalysis of modern resins (relative to monomethyladamantanes) was significantly greater, as compared with that of fossil resins.