Related alkanes Density 791 kg/m³ | Formula C20H42 Appearance Colourless liquid | |
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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.
