Three cyclic C33 botryococcenes and one new trimethylsqualene isomer were isolated from the B race, Showa (Berkeley) strain of Botryococcus braunii, which is known to produce large amounts of isoprenoid hydrocarbons ranging in carbon number from 30 to 34. Their purity was determined by GC-MS, and structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR. One of these molecules, cyclic C33-1 botryococcene (5), has an unusual connection of a methylenecyclohexane ring to the molecule backbone not seen before in botryococcenes. This report further adds to our knowledge of the wide range of isoprenoid hydrocarbon structures produced by B. braunii.
Chlorophyta Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry