Abiotic formation of 32,35-anhydrobacteriohopanetetrol: A geomimetic approach

Treatment of bacterial cells from Zymomonas mobilis in the presence of acidic clay minerals in aqueous medium leads to the formation of 32,35-anhydrobacteriohopanetetrols (anhydroBHTs), confirming that these compounds, widespread in the geological record, are likely formed by diagenetic (abiotic) processes. We determined that anhydroBHTs result not only from the acid-catalyzed transformation of free bacteriohopanetetrol, but also of other composite biohopanoids such as bacteriohopanetetrol (BHT) glycoside and BHT cyclitol ether.