Efficient, Low-Cost Synthesis of Retinal (Vitamin A Aldehyde)

Abstract

Inexpensive retinyl acetate has been subjected to transesterification followed by allylic oxidation to give retinal in 98% yield as a 92:8 mixture of all-trans/13-cis isomers after chromatographic separation. More convenient methods of isolating the all-trans isomer have also been employed.

Key words

retinyl acetate - retinal - transesterification - allylic oxidation - isomerization

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