Identification of bicyclic terpenoid hydrocarbons in the saturate fraction of Athabasca oil sand bitumen

The bicyclic terpanes reported to be present in numerous petroleums have been detected in the saturate fraction of the Athabasca oil sand bitumen. This series of compounds has been found to extend from C15 to at least C24 and their structures have been established by means of comparisons with synthetic C18 and C20 samples of known stereochemistry.