Total synthesis of (3S, 5R, 3'S, 5'R)-capsorubin

Abstract

The total synthesis of enantiomerically enriched (3S, 5R, 3'S, 5'R)-capsorubin (1) by aldol condensation of (1R, 4S)-1-(4-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopentyl)ethanone (2a) and crocetindial (3) is described. An alternative, short eight-step synthesis of the optically active compound 2a (ee 89%) is also reported. © 2009 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.