Catalytic hydrogenation in the identification of constituents of an Italian lignite

The terpene content of an Italian lignite was investigated by catalytic hydrogenation of its steam distillate and some reference terpenes. G.c. and g.c.-m.s. analyses of hydrogenated crudes confirmed previous identifications and revealed intermediate structures formed by partial reduction and the presence of bicyclic diterpenes with MW 278. Of the reference terpenes used for comparison with 210 MW sesquiterpene, elemane matched it in R f and mass spectrum. Other identified compounds were some polysubstituted tricyclic diterpenes. Suggestions of an origin in the cupressaceae family could not be confirmed, because of the absence of cuparene and other compounds. The presence of elemane is not easy to explain, but some suggestions are made, and its recent discovery in another fossil of a known but extinct species makes it possible to assign the lignite investigated to a similar species.