Phytane

Phytane

Names
IUPAC name 2,6,10,14-Tetramethylhexadecane
Identifiers
CAS Number	638-36-8 N
Beilstein Reference	1744639
ChEBI	CHEBI:48937 N
ChemSpider	12006 N 393886 6S,10S,14R N
EC Number	211-332-2
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
MeSH	phytane
PubChem	12523 54081983 6R,10R 42627075 6R,10S,14S 446564 6S,10S,14R
InChI InChI=1S/C20H42/c1-7-18(4)12-9-14-20(6)16-10-15-19(5)13-8-11-17(2)3/h17-20H,7-16H2,1-6H3 N Key: GGYKPYDKXLHNTI-UHFFFAOYSA-N N
SMILES CCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C20H42
Molar mass	282.56 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colourless liquid
Odor	Odourless
Density	791 mg mL−1 (at 20 °C)
Boiling point	69 to 71 °C (156 to 160 °F; 342 to 344 K) at 100 mPa
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Related compounds
Related alkanes	Pristane Squalane
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Phytane is a type of diterpenoid alkane. In contrast to pristane, which is formed from the dehydroxylation of phytol, it has one extra carbon.

Phytanyl is the corresponding substituent. Phytanyl groups are frequently found in phospholipids in membranes of thermophilic Archaea. These include caldarchaeol, a compound which contains two fused phytanyl chains.

It is used as a bio-marker in petroleum studies.

Unsaturated phytanes

Phytene is the singly unsaturated version of phytane. Phytene is also found as the functional group phytyl in many organic molecules of biological importance such as chlorophyll, tocopherol (Vitamin E) and phylloquinone (Vitamin K₁). Phytene's corresponding alcohol is phytol.

Geranylgeranene is the fully unsaturated form of phytane. The corresponding substituent is geranylgeranyl.

See also

• Archaeol