Extended saturated and monoaromatic tricyclic terpenoid carboxylic acids found in Tasmanian tasmanite

A series of tricyclic terpenoid carboxylic acids (C20–C40) was found in the acidic fraction of Tasmanian tasmanite bitumen, occurring as a mixture of stereoisomers with mainly the 13β(H), 14α(H)-and 13α(H),14α(H)-configurations. These dominant acidic tricyclic constituents have the same carbon skeleton as the ubiquitous tricyclic terpane biomarkers. A novel series of ring-C monoaromatic tricyclic terpenoid carboxylic acids was also characterized. The series ranges from C19 to C39 and is the acidic counterpart of the recently described series of monoaromatic tricyclic terpanes.