Preparation of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin

US5210314A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Hansgeorg Ernst · Speyer, DE
• Joachim Paust · Schifferstadt, DE
• Werner Hoffmann · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 29, 1991
• Grant date: May 11, 1993
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C2601/16
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

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## PA1 where R is H (a) or OH (b), with trifluoroacetic acid, reacting the resulting novel trifluoroacetate of the formula III ##STR3## PA1 with triphenylphosphine, and reacting the resulting novel triphenylphosphonium trifluoroacetate of the formula IV ##STR4## PA1 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.