- (6R,9'Z)-Neoxanthin: Synthesis, physical properties, spectra, and calculations of its conformation in solution
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The synthesis of pure and crystalline (9'Z)-neoxanthin (6) is described. MnO2 Oxidation of (9Z)-C15-alcohol 7 at room temperature produces a mixture 8/9 of (9Z)- and (9E)-aldehydes. Predominant formation of the required (9Z)-aldehyde 8 is achieved by performing the oxidation at -10°. Condensation of 8 with the mono-Li salt of the symmetrical C10-diphosphonate 10 gave the (9Z)-C25-monophosphonate 11. The Wittig-Horner condensation of 10 with the allenic C15-aldehyde 1b, under selected conditions allows the preparation of pure and crystalline (9'Z)-15,15'-didehydroneoxanthin (12) and, after subsequent semireduction, of crystalline (15Z,9'Z)-neoxanthin (13). Thermal isomerisation of a AcOEt solution of 13 at 95° yields preferentially (9'Z)-neoxanthin (6). Our crystalline sample shows the highest ε-values in the UV/VIS spectra ever recorded. The CD spectra display a pronounced similarity with those of corresponding violaxanthin isomers. In contrast to the (all-E)-isomer 5, (9'Z)-neoxanthin undergoes very little isomerisation when heated to its melting point. For comparison purposes, a crystalline probe of 6 is also isolated from lawn mowings. Extensive 1H- and 13C-NMR investigations at 600 MHz of a (D6)benzene solution using 2D-experiments such as COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HMBC, and HMQC techniques permit the unambiguous assignment of all signals. Force-field calculations of a model system of 6 indicate the presence of several interconverting conformers of the violaxanthin end group, 66% of which possess a pseudoequatorial and 34% a pseudoaxial OH-C(3'). The torsion angle (ω1) around the C(6')-C(7') bond, known to be of prime importance for the shape of the CD spectra, varies with values of 87° for 55% and 263° for 45% of the molecules. Therefore, the molecules clearly display a preference for the 'syn'-position of the C(7') = C(8') bond and the epoxy group. Unexpectedly, the double bonds of C(7') = C(8') and C(9') = C(10') are not coplanar. The deviation amounts to ± 20°, both in the 'syn'- and the 'anti'-conformation.
- Baumeler,Zerbe,Kunz,Eugster
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p. 909 - 930
(2007/10/02)
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- Synthesis of (6R,all-E)-Neoxanthin and Related Allenic Carotenoids
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We present the first synthesis of enantiomerically pure neoxanthin (1) by a Wittig-Horner condensation between the ylide from the novel diethyl 12'-apo-15,15'-didehydroviolaxanthin-12'-phosphonate (35) and the allenic C15-aldehyde 31 (Scheme 4) via the crystalline 15,15'-didehydroneoxanthin (36; 70percent yield).After partial hydrogenation of the triple bond of 36 and isomerisation of the (15Z)-intermediate 37, neoxanthin (1) was obtained in good yield.Similar syntheses gave (15Z,9'Z)-neoxanthin (45; Scheme 5) and (9Z)-15,15'-didehydroneoxanthin (47; Scheme 6).Comparison of the physical data of synthetic 1 with those of a freshly isolated sample of neoxanthin from the flowers of Trollius europaeus confirmed their identity.The unusually low melting point of 1 is caused by a very easy thermal isomerisation into a mixture of the neochromes 4 and 5 (Scheme 1).Such a thermal rearrangement is not observed with 15,15'-didehydroneoxanthin (36).To explain this, we assume a zwitterionic excited state of the allenic group that induces the rearrangement of the violaxanthin end group into the furanoid epoxide (Scheme 7).
- Baumeler, Andreas,Eugster, Conrad Hans
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p. 773 - 790
(2007/10/02)
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