pristane Chem.
(ˈprɪsteɪn)
[ad. G. pristan (Y. Toyama 1923, in Chem. Umschau auf d. Gebiete d. Fette, Oele, Wachse u. Harze XXX. 186/1), f. L. prist-is, Gr. πρίστ-ις saw-fish, (loosely) shark; see -ane.]
A saturated hydrocarbon, now known to be 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane, C19H40, which occurs in the liver oils of certain sharks and related species and is a colourless oil solidifying below about 30°C.
| 1923 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. CXXIV. i. 890 The pure hydro⁓carbon, which is named pristane, has the following characters:..b.p. 158°/10 mm.,..296°/760 mm., without decomposition. 1963 Nature 20 July 284/1 It is estimated that pristane constitutes about 1·1 per cent of the total paraffin fraction of crude wool wax. 1965, 1971 [see phytane]. 1975 Sci. Amer. June 94/3 Pristane is also found in some marine organisms, whereas phytane almost never appears except in organisms that have been contaminated by petroleum. |