抄録
The 3,3', 5'-trihydroxy-5', 6'-dihydro-β-carotene-5,6-monoepoxide structure proposed by A.L. Curl and N.I. Krinsky for neoxanthin was not coincident with natural neoxanthin obtained from spinach. The specimen having the above structure was synthesized from zeaxanthin isolated from Chinese lantern plant. As model experiments, the LiAlH_4 reduction of the 5,6-mono-epoxide, 5,8-epoxide, or 5,6,5', 6'-diepoxide of β-carotene, and the epoxidation or dehydration of 5- and 6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-β-carotene were fully studied. The spectral characterization of the epoxides of xanthophylls was also discussed.
