Natural sulphurization of ketones and aldehydes: A key reaction in the formation of organic sulphur compounds

Abstract

Acids, ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols were tested in the laboratory as substrates for hydrosulphurization under mild conditions. Ketone and aldehyde model compounds (i.e., 2-nonanone, nonanal, cholestan-3-one and phytenal) formed significant amounts of organic sulphur compounds, in which the oxo group was substituted by a polysulphide moiety. These results are used to explain the formation of several organic sulphur compounds reported in immature S-rich sediments.