Structural Assignment and Catagenetic Behavior of Macromolecular Constituents ofRecent and Fossil Natural Resins

摘要

The thesis describes the results obtained by molecular organic geochemicalinvestigations of fossil and recent natural resins. A major constituent of these plant exudates is a polymeric substance which is resistant to degradation and is thus likely to fossilize. Time and the rise of temperature and pressure upon burial may lead to a disintegration of the polymeric structures into smaller molecules which can contribute to oil formation. The aim of the study was to assess the mechanisms of depolymerization by investigating in detail the chemical structures of resin polymers and their catagenetic products. In nature two major types of resinous polymers are known to occur: polysesquiterpenoids and polyditerpenoids. The first part of the thesis, chapters 2-8, contains the results of investigations concerning the sesquiterpenoid type polymer. Chemical structures, occurrence and origin of both the polymer and its catagenetic products are described. The second part of the thesis, chapters 9-11, deals with the structures of diterpenoid polymers.