Extended hopanes and 8,14-secohopanes up to C_(40)in unbiodegraded marine oils from the Tarim Basin,NW China

Extended 17α(H),21β(H)-hopanes and three series of 8,14-secohopanes up to C_(40),including 8α(H),14α(H),17α(H),21β(H)-,8α(H),14α(H),17β(H),21α(H)-and 8α(H),14β(H),17β(H),21α(H)-,were detected by GC-MS-MS method in the branched/cyclic hydrocarbon fractions of some unbiodegraded marine oils from the Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin,NW China.The coexistence of extended hopanes and 8,14-secohopanes up to C_(40)in unbiodegraded oils suggests that they are primary and independent on biodegradation.The similarity of distribution and composition for extended hopanes and 8,14-secohopanes up to C_(40)in unbiodegraded oils proposes that they could be derived from a similar biological precursor.However,an abrupt decrease up to 3-5 times in the relative abundance from C_(35)to C_(36)in C_(31-40)extended hopanes and extended 8,14-secohopanes suggests that C_(31-35)and C_(36-40)extended hopanes and extended 8,14-secohopanes should have their own biological precursor.The known C35bacteriohopanetetrol should be biological precursor of C_(31-35)extended hopanes and 8,14-secohopanes,but an unknown C_(40)functionalized hopanoid could be biological precursor of C_(36-40)extended hopanes and 8,14-secohopanes.More attention should be paid to their potential roles in oil-source correlation for severely biodegraded oils based on their widespread occurrence in various source rocks,unbiodegraded and severely biodegraded oils.