Preparation of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin
AssigneeBASF SE
InventorsHansgeorg Ernst, Joachim Paust, Werner Hoffmann
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Abstract
A process for preparing canthaxanthin (Ia) and astaxanthin (Ib) of the formula I ##STR1## where R is H (a) or OH (b), comprises reacting a tertiary alcohol of the formula II ##STR2## where R is H (a) or OH (b), with trifluoroacetic acid, reacting the resulting novel trifluoroacetate of the formula III ##STR3## with triphenylphosphine, and reacting the resulting novel triphenylphosphonium trifluoroacetate of the formula IV ##STR4## with 2,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatriene-1,8-dial under the conditions of a Wittig synthesis. The present invention also relates to the novel trifluoroacetates of the formula III and the corresponding triphenylphosphonium trifluoroacetates of the formula IV.
Claims8
A process for preparing canthaxanthin (Ia) and astaxanthin (Ib) of the formula I ##STR12## where R is H (a) or OH (b), which comprises A. reacting a tertiary alcohol of the formula II ##STR13## where R is H (a) or OH (b), with trifluoroacetic acid at a temperature of about 0.degree. to 50.degree. C.,
- B. reacting the resulting trifluoroacetate of the formula III ##STR14## with triphenylphosphine at a temperature of about 50.degree. to 100.degree. C., and
- C. reacting the resulting triphenylphosphonium trifluoroacetate of the formula IV ##STR15## where R is H (a) or OH (b), with 2,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatriene-1,8-dial, under the conditions of a Wittig synthesis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.