Molecule of the Month

28,30-Dinorhopane (Bisnorhopane) by Paul Farrimond

Although more

 correctly referred to as 28,30-dinorhopane, this compound has long been called “bisnorhopane” in petroleum geochemical literature, and both are now in common use.

Molecule of the Month

Diahopane (Hopane “X”)

This C30 rearranged hopane had been widely observed before its structure was determined (by Moldowan et al. , 1991).   Originally labelled as “compound X” (after Philp & Gilbert, 1986), it was initially considered a possible terrestrial marker, but when Moldowan et al.