R. Alexander, T. Bastow, S. Fisher
Oct 1, 1995
Citations
3
Influential Citations
108
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Abstract
Abstract A crude oil and several shales which contain anomalously high concentrations of phenanthrene, 1-methylphenanthrene, 1,7-dimethylphenathrene, and retene have been shown to contain relatively high concentrations of their corresponding 9-methyl counterparts. In laboratory experiments carried out under mild conditions, each of the phenanthrenes has been shown to be substituted preferentially at the 9-position when a methyl donor was heated with the substrate in the presence of a clay catalyst. These observations have been interpreted as evidence for a sedimentary methylation process.