Synthesis of optically active carotenoids: A review

Abstract

Advances in the field of the synthesis of optically active carotenoids are reviewed. It is shown that the main end-groups or at least precursors of them have been synthesized and that many carotenoids have been prepared in enantiomerically pure form. For the introduction of the centers of chirality selective reduction with baker's yeast, the selection of easily available, naturally occurring, optically active compounds as starting material and the Sharpless epoxidation were applied. It is also shown that many problems are still unsolved. © 1991 IUPAC