Early diagenetic alterations of biogenetic organic compounds

Plant matter from a beech forest, leaves, and soil were extracted and analyzed by GC-MS technique. The amount of the extract varies with the CPI value. Characteristic compounds like phytadienes, plant alcohols, polycyclic aromatics, sterols, and triterpenes are observed in different samples at various concentrations. It seems there is a rapid change in the composition of extracts from recent plant material during early diagenesis based on reactions such as hydrolysis, dehydration, oxidation, and polymerization.