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Pristane

 
(′pri′stān)

(organic chemistry) C19H40 A liquid soluble in such organic solvents as ether, petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride; used as a lubricant, as an oil in transformers, and as an anticorrosion agent. Also known as norphytane.


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Pristane
Pristane
IUPAC name
Other names Norphytane
Identifiers
CAS number [1921-70-6]
SMILES
Properties
Molecular formula C19H40
Molar mass 268.51 g/mol
Density 0.783 g/cm3
Melting point

-100 °C, 173 K, -148 °F

Boiling point

296 °C, 569 K, 565 °F

Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox references

Pristane is a natural saturated terpenoid alkane obtained primarily from shark liver oil, from which its name is derived (Latin pristis, "shark"). It is also found in mineral oil and some foods.[1] It is a transparent oily liquid that is immiscible with water, but soluble in diethyl ether, benzene, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.

Pristane is known to induce autoimmune diseases in rodents. It is used in research to understand the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.[2][3] The fact that it is used in many products, raises the possibility that it may be a possible environmental exposure that may trigger diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.[4]

It is used as a lubricant, a transformer oil, an immunologic adjuvant, and an anti-corrosion agent.

Biosynthetically, pristane is derived from phytol.

References

  1. ^ Chung, J. G., L. R. Garrett, P. E. Byers, and M. A. Cuchens (1989). "A survey of the amount of pristane in common fruits and vegetables". J. Food Comp. Anal. 2 (22): 22. doi:10.1016/0889-1575(89)90058-6. 
  2. ^ Anderson, P. N., and M. Potter (1969). "Induction of plasma cell tunours in BALBfc mice with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane (pristane)". Nature 222: 994. doi:10.1038/222994a0. 
  3. ^ Hazani R, Engineer N. (Nov 2008). "Surreptitious injection of mineral oil: a case report of sclerosing lipogranulomatosis". Ann Plast Surg 61 (5): 555–8. doi:10.1097/SAP.0b013e31816d8316. 
  4. ^ Frederick W Miller (2006). "Is occupational exposure to mineral oil a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis?". Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology 2: 130–131. doi:10.1038/ncprheum0137. 

 
 
Learn More
Biomarker (petroleum)
Pristanic acid
Phytane

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