Axially Dissymmetric Diphosphines in the Biphenyl Series: Synthesis of (6,6′-Dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)(‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and Analogues via an ortho-Lithiation/Iodination Ullmann-Reaction Approach

The new axially dissymmetric diphosphines (R)- and (S)-(6,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenyl phosphine) ((R)- and (S)- 5a ; ‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and the analogues (R)- and (S)- 5b and 5c have been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. These ligands have become readily available by a synthetic scheme which employs, as key steps, an ortho-lithiation/iodination reaction of the (m-methoxyphenyl)diprienylphosphine oxides 8 and a subsequent Ullmann reaction of the resulting iodides 9 to provide the racemic bis(phosphine oxides) 10 . The bis(phosphine oxides) 10 subsequently are resolved with (?)-(2R,3R)- and (+)-(2S,3S)-O-2,3-dibenzoyltartaric acid and reduced to diphosphines 5 . The Ullmann reaction constitutes a new and efficient route to 2,2′-bis(phosphinoyl)-substituted biphenyl systems. Absolute configurations were established for (R)- 5a by X-ray analysis of the derived Pd complex (R,R)- 17a , and for 5b and 5c by means of ¹H-NMR comparisons of the derived Pd complexes 16 or 17 , respectively, and by means of CD comparisons. The MeO-BIPHEP diphosphine 5a proved to be as efficient as the previously described BIPHEMP diphosphine ((6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)) in enantioselective isomerizations and hydrogenations.     

C45- and C50-Carotehoids. Part 8. Synthesis of (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin, (all- E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydro- bacterioruberin,and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin

Starting from (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)- 10 ) the C₄₅- and C₅₀-carotenoids (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberm ( 1 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin ( 2 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 3 ), (all-E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 5 ), and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin ( 6 ) were synthesized. By comparison of the chiroptical data of the natural and the synthetic compounds, the (2S)- and (2′S)-configuration of the natural products 1–3 and 6 was established.     

New Synthesis and Chirality of (−)-4,4,4,4′,4′,4′-Hexafluorovaline

(?)-(R)-4,4,4,4′,4′,4′-Hexafluorovaline hydrochloride ((R)- 5 ) of 98% ee is prepared from β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (= benzyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)but-2-enoate; 1 ) in 4 steps with an overall yield of 9.6%. Key step is the separation of the TsOH salts of the diastereoisomers obtained by anti-Michael addition of (+)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine ( 2 ) to 1 (→ (R,R)- 3 ). In contrast to the published (S)-chirality, the X-ray structure analysis of (R,S)- 6 reveals, that (R)-chirality has to be assigned to the levorotatory (?)-4,4,4,4′,4′,4′-hexafluorovaline hydrochloride.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of (S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′,5′-Hexafluoroleucine

(S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-Hexafluoroleucine ((S)- 13 ) of 81 % ee is prepared from hexafluoroacetone ( l ) and ethyl bromopyruvate (= ethyl 2-oxopropanoate) in 7 steps with an overall yield of 18% (Schemes 1 and 2). Key step in this sequence is the highly enantioselective reduction of the carbonyl group in α-keto ester 4 either by bakers' yeast (91 % ee) or by ‘catecholborane’ 6 utilizing an oxazaborolidine catalyst, yielding hydroxy ester (R)- 5 with 99% ee. The absolute configuration was determined by X-ray analysis of the HCl adduct (S,R)- 9b of (2S)-N-[(R)- l-phenylethyl]-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-hexafluoroleucine ethyl ester.     

Photochemische Umsetzung von optisch aktiven 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilinen mit Methanol

Photochemical Reaction of Optically Active 2-(1′-Methylallyl)anilines with Methanol It is shown that (?)-(S)-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 4 ) on irradiation in methanol yields (?)-(2S, 3R)-2, 3-dimethylindoline ((?)-trans- 8 ), (?)-(1′R, 2′R)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)aniline ((?)-erythro- 9 ) as well as racemic (1′RS, 2′SR)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl) aniline ((±)-threo- 9 ) in 27.1, 36.4 and 15.7% yield, respectively (see Scheme 3). By deamination and chemical correlation with (+)-(2R, 3R)-3-phenyl-2-butanol ((+)-erythro- 13 ; see Scheme 4) it was found that (?)-erythro- 9 has the same absolute configuration and optical purity as the starting material (?)-(S)- 4 . Comparable results are obtained when (?)-(S)-N-methyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((?)-(S)- 7 ) is irradiated in methanol, i.e. the optically active indoline (+)-trans- 10 and the methanol addition product (?)-erythro- 11 along with its racemic threo-isomer are formed (cf. Scheme 3). These findings demonstrate that the methanol addition products arise from stereospecific, methanol-induced ring opening of intermediate, chiral trans, -(→(?)-erythro-compounds) and achiral cis-spiro [2.5]octa-4,6-dien-8-imines (→(±)-threo-compounds; see Schemes 1 and 2).     

(all-E)-12′-Apozeaxanthinol,Persicaxanthine und Persicachrome

( all-E)-12′-Apozeanthinol, Persicaxanthine, and Persicachromes Reexamination of the so-called ‘persicaxanthins’ and ‘persicachromes’, the fluorescent and polar C₂₅-apocarotenols from the flesh of cling peaches, led to the identification of the following components: (3R)-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 3 ), (3S,5R,8R, all-E)- and (3S,5R,8S,all-E)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diols (4 and 5, resp.), (3S,5R,6S,all-E)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-l2′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol =persicaxanthin; ( 6 ), (3S,5R,6S,9Z,13′Z)-5,6-dihydro-12′apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 7 ; probable structure), (3S,5R,6S,15Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 8 ), and (3S,5R,6S,13Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 9 ). The (Z)-isomers 7 – 9 are very labile and, after HPLC separation, isomerized predominantly to the (all-E)-isomer 6 .     

Synthesis and asymmetric polymerization of (S)‐N‐maleoyl‐L‐leucine propargyl ester

A kind of N‐substituted maleimide (RMI), chiral (S)‐N‐maleoyl‐L ‐leucine propargyl ester ((S)‐PLMI) with a specific rotation of [α]₄₃₅ = ?27.5° was successfully synthesized from maleic anhydride, L ‐leucine, and propargyl alcohol. (S)‐PLMI was polymerized by three polymerization methods to obtain the corresponding optically active polymers. Asymmetric anionic, radical, and transition‐metal‐catalyzed polymerizations were carried out using organometal/chiral ligands, 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and (bicyclo [2,2,1]hepta‐2,5‐diene) chloro rhodium (I) dimer ([Rh(nbd) Cl]₂), respectively. Poly((S)‐PLMI) obtained by [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ in DMF showed the highest specific rotation of ?280.6°. Chiroptical properties and structures of the polymers obtained were investigated by GPC, CD, IR, and NMR measurements. Two types of poly((S)‐PLMI)‐bonded‐silica gels as the chiral stationary phase (CSP) were prepared for high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their optical resolution abilities were also elucidated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3722–3738, 2007     

Stereochemische Korrelationen zwischen (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin und (–)-(R)-Linalol

Stereochemical Correlations between (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin and (–)-(R)-Linalol The optically active C₅- and C₄-building units 1 and 2 with their hydroxy group at a asymmetric C-atom were transformed to (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin ( 7 ) and (–)-(3R)-Linalol ( 8 ) respectively; 1 and 2 had been used earlier in the preparation of the chroman part of (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol ( 6a , vitamin E), and for introduction of the side chain in (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol ((25S)- 4 ), a natural metabolite of Vitamin D₃. The stereochemical correlations resulting from these converions fit into a coherent picture with those correlations already known from literature and they confirm our earlier stereochemical assignments. A stereochemical assignment concerning the C(25)-epimers of 25,26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol that was in contrast to our findings and that initiated the conversion of 1 and 2 to 7 resp. 8 for additional stereochemical correlations has been corrected in the meantime by the authors [26].     

Bis(2,4,7‐tri­methyl­indenyl)­cobalt(II) and rac‐2,2′,4,4′,7,7′‐hexamethyl‐1,1′‐biindene

The crystal and molecular structures of bis(η⁵‐2,4,7‐tri­methyl­indenyl)­cobalt(II), [Co(C₁₂H₁₃)₂], (I), and rac‐2,2′,4,4′,7,7′‐hexamethyl‐1,1′‐biindene, C₂₄H₂₆, (II), are reported. In the crystal structure of (I), the Co atom lies on an inversion centre and the structure represents the first example of a bis(indenyl)cobalt complex exhibiting an eclipsed indenyl conformation. The (1R,1′R) and (1S,1′S) enantiomers of the three possible stereoisomers of (II), which form as by‐products in the synthesis of (I), cocrystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. In the unit cell of (II), alternating (1R,1′R) and (1S,1′S) enantiomers pack in non‐bonded rows along the a axis, with the planes of the indenyl groups parallel to each other and separated by 3.62 and 3.69 Å.     

Mammalian Alkaloids: Configurations of Optically Active Salsoline- and 3′,4′-Dideoxynorlaudanosoline-1-carboxylic Acids

Synthesis of the optical isomers of (±)-methyl 6,7-dimethyl-3′,4′-dideoxynorlaudanosoline-1-carboxylate ((±)- 2 ) was accomplished by reaction of (±)- 2 with (+)-(R)-1-phenylethyl isocyanate, separation of the urea diastereoisomers (?)- 4A and (+)- 4B , and alcoholysis of the ureas in refluxing BuOH. Optically active isoquinoline-carboxylates 2A , B and hydantoins 8A , B isolated were characterized. The absolute configuration of the reaction products was established by X-ray analysis of the optically active hydantoin (+)- 8A . Hydrolysis of the methyl isoquinolinecarboxylates 2A , B with 48% HBr soln. at reflux afforded the desired optically active 3′,4′-dideoxynorlaudanosoline-1-carboxylic acids 1A , B required for enzyme-inhibition studies. Details of the X-ray diffraction analysis of (+)-methyl salsoline-1-carboxylate hydrobromide ((+)- 11A ·HBr) prepared earlier are included. CD spectra of (+)-(S)-methyl 6,7-dimethyl-3′,4′-dideoxynorlaudanosoline-1-carboxylate hydrobromide ((+)- 2A . HBr) and (?)-(R)-methyl salsoline-1-carboxylate hydrochloride ((?)- 11B ·HCl) confirmed the assignment of their (S)- and (R)-configurations, respectively.     

Synthese von optisch aktiven,natürlichen Carotinoiden und strukturell verwandten Naturprodukten. V. Synthese von (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- und (3R,3′S; meso)-Zeaxanthin durch asymmetrische Hydroborierung. Ein neuer Zugang zu Optisch aktiven Carotinoidbausteinen. Vorläufige Mitteilung

Synthesis of Optically Active Natural Carotenoids and Structurally Related Compounds. V. Synthesis of (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- and (3R,3′S; meso)-zeaxanthin by Asymmetric Hydroboration. A New Approach to Optically Active Carotenoid Building Units The synthesis of (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- and (3R,3′S; meso)-zeaxanthin ( 1 ), ( 19 ) and ( 21 ) is reported utilizing asymmetric hydroboration as the key reaction. Thus, safranol isopropenylmethylether ( 4 ) is hydroborated with (+)- and (?)-(IPC)₂BH to give the optically pure key intermediates 5 and 7 resp., which are transformed into the above-mentioned C₄₀-compounds.     

Asymmetric Hydroformylation of Vinylfurans Catalyzed by {(11bS)‐4‐{[(1R)‐2′‐Phosphino[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl]oxy}dinaphtho[2,1‐d:1′,2′‐f]‐ [1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin}rhodium(I) [RhI{(R,S)‐binaphos}] Derivatives

The asymmetric hydroformylation of 2‐ and 3‐vinylfurans ( 2a and 2b , resp.) was investigated by using [Rh{(R,S)‐binaphos}] complexes as catalysts ((R,S)‐binaphos = (11bS)‐4‐{[1R)‐2′‐phosphino[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl]oxy}dinaphtho[2,1‐d:1′,2′‐f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin; 1 ). Hydroformylation of 2 gave isoaldehydes 3 in high regio‐ and enantioselectivities (Scheme 2 and Table). Reduction of the aldehydes 3 with NaBH₄ successfully afforded the corresponding alcohols 5 without loss of enantiomeric purity (Scheme 3).     

Chiral 1,1′-Binaphthyl Molecular Clefts for the Complexation of Excitatory Amino-Acid Derivatives

The complexation of N-benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) derivatives of the excitatory amino acids L -aspartic acid (Asp; 1 ), L -glutamic acid (Glu; 3 ), and, for the first time, L -kainic acid ((2S,3S,3S)-2-carboxy-4-(1-methylethenyl)pyrrolidine-3-acetic acid; Kai; 5 ) was studied in CDCl₃ with a diversity of chiral receptors consisting of a 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer with (carboxamido)pyridine (CONH(py)) functionality attached to the 6,6′-positions in the major groove. Receptors of type A possess two N-(pyridin-2-yl)carboxamide H-bonding sites (e.g. 7 ), whereas type B-receptors have two N-(pyridine-6,2-diyl)acetamide residues attached (e.g. 8 and 9 ). Complexes of excitatory amino-acid derivatives and other, achiral α,β-dicarboxylic acids with these receptors are primarily stabilized by two sets of C?O···H? N and O? H ··· N H-bonds. Optically active type-A receptors such as (R)- and (S)- 7 showed a preference for the larger Glu derivative, whereas type- B receptors such as (R)- and (S)- 8 and (R)- and (S)- 9 formed more stable complexes with the smaller Cbz-Asp. To improve the poor enantioselectivity shown by 7–9 , additional functionality was introduced at the 7,7′-positions of the 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer, and the nature of the H-bonding sites in the 6,6′-positions was varied. Screening the diversity of new racemic receptors for binding affinity, which had been shown in many examples by Cram to correlate with enantioselectivity, demonstrated that (+)- 10 and (+)- 11 formed the most stable complexes with dicarboxylic acids, and these receptors were synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. Both are type- B binders and contain additional PhCH₂O ( 10 ) and MeO ( 11 ) groups in the 7,7′-positions. By ¹H-NMR binding titrations, the complexation of (R)- and (S)- 10 and (R)- and (S)- 11 with the excitatory amino-acid derivatives was studied in CDCl₃, and association constants K_a between 10³ and 2 · 10⁵ l mol^?1 were measured for the 1:1 host-guest complexes formed. Whereas both 10 and 11 formed stable complexes, enantioselective binding was limited to the PhCH₂O-substituted receptor 10 , with the (R)-enantiomer complexing Cbz-Asp by 0.7 kcal mol^?1 more tightly than the (S)-enantiomer. The structures of the diastereoisomeric complexes were analyzed in detail by experimental methods (complexation-induced changes in ¹H-NMR chemical shifts, ¹H{¹H} nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) difference spectroscopy) and computer modeling. These studies established that an unusual variety of interesting aromatic interactions and secondary electrostatic interactions are responsible for both the high binding affinity (? ΔG° up to 7.2 kcal mol^?1) and the enantioselection observed with (R)- and (S)- 10 . In an approach to enhance the enantioselectivity by reducing the conformational flexibility of the 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer, an additional crown-ether binding site was attached to the 2,2′-positions in the minor groove of the type- B receptors (R)- and (S)- 48 . Both the binding affinity and the enantioselectivity (Δ(ΔG°) up to 0.7 kcal mol^?1) in the complexation of the excitatory amino-acid derivatives by (R)- and (S)- 48 were not altered upon complexation of Hg(CN)₂ at the crown-ether binding site, demonstrating lack of cooperativity between the minor- and major-groove recognition sites.     

Carbocyclic 5′‐norcytidine (5′‐norcarbodine)

A preparation of (1′R,2′S,3′R,4′S)‐1‐(2′,3′,4′‐trihydroxycyclopent‐1′‐yl)‐lH‐cytosine (5′‐norcarbodine, 3 ) has formally been achieved in 2 steps from (+)‐(1R,4S)‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐yl acetate ( 4 ) and cytosine. The L‐like enantiomer of 3 (that is, 6 ) is also reported using the enantiomer of 4 (that is, 7 ). In evalu ating 3 and 6 for antiviral potential against a number of viruses, compound 3 was found to have activity towards Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV).     

Syntheses of helical polymers through the combination of axially dissymmetric segments

Wholly aromatic polymers with various helical structures were prepared through the combination of two axially dissymmetric bifunctional compounds. The palladium-catalyzed condensation of (R)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl with (R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine and the reaction of (S)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl with (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine produced helical polyamines, and the chiral conformation was confirmed by their circular dichroism spectra and large specific rotations. The combination of (R)-2,2-diethoxy-6,6′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl and (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine afforded polyamines with a zigzag conformation. The condensation of (R)-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-6,6′-dicarbonyl chloride with (R)-2,2′-diamino-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl and the reaction of (S)-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl-6,6′-dicarbonyl chloride with (S)-2,2′-diamino-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl predominantly yielded cyclic dimers and tetramers because of the steric proximity of the reactive groups of the propagating species. The experimental results indicated that the structures of the obtained polymers depended on the combination of the chirality of the bifunctional atropisomeric compounds and the position of the functional groups on the aromatic rings. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4607–4620, 2004     

Synthesis of enantiomers of 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzylacyclouridine (AM-BAU) and 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyloxybenzylacyclouridine (AM-BBAU). Potent inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase

Racemic 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyl-acyclouridine (AM-BAU, 5 ) and 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyloxybenzyla-cyclouridine (AM-BBAU, 6 ) have been found to be very active inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase [1]. Their enantiomers were synthesized from chiral 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol ( 7a,b ). S-(—)-AM-BAU ( 5a ) and S-(—)-AM-BBAU ( 6a ) were prepared from the R-(—) isomer 7a , and R(+)-AM-BAU ( 5b ) and R-(+)-AM-BBAU (6b) from the S-(+) isomer 7b . A different route from the S-(+) isomer 7b to S-(—)-AM-BBAU ( 6a ) was also determined to be feasible.     

Technische Verfahren zur Synthese von Carotinoiden und verwandten Verbindungen aus 6-Oxo-isophoron. IV. Neues Konzept für die Synthese von (3RS, 3′RS)-, (3S, 3′S)- und (3R, 3′R)-9,9′-dicis-7,8,7′,8′-Tetradehydroastaxanthin

Technical Procedures for the Synthesis of Carotenoids and Related Compounds from 6-Oxo-isophorone. IV. A Novel Concept for the Synthesis of (3RS, 3′RS)-, (3S, 3′S)- and (3R, 3′R)-9,9′-dicis-7,8,7′,8′-Tetradehydroastaxanthin Starting from readily available intermediates of the synthesis of astaxanthin, (3RS, 3′RS)-, (3R, 3′R)- and (3S, 3′S)-9,9′-di-cis-tetradehydroastaxanthin ( 1, 1a and 1b , resp.) were synthesized, 1 and 1b for the first time. Key features of this concept are: a) use of the unprotected, acetylenic phosphonium salts 8–12 , b) a two-step synthesis with 47% overall yield, and c) good chemical and optical purity of the end products.     

Cycloviolaxanthin (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6:3′,6′-Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-5,5′-diol), ein neues Carotinoid aus Paprika (Capsicum annuum)

Cycloviolaxanthin (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3.6:3′,6′-Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-5,5′-diol), a Novel Carotenoid from Red Paprika (Capsicum annuum) From red paprika (Capsicum annuum var. longum nigrum) cycloviolaxanthin was isolated as a minor carotenoid and, based on spectral data, assigned the symmetrical structure 8 .     

Synthèse énantiospécifique des acides (+)-(2R)- et (−)-(2S)-éthyl-6-dihydro-3,4-méthyl-2-oxo-4–2H pyranecarboxylique-5

Enantiospecific Synthesis of (+)-(2R)- and (?)-(2S)-6-Ethyl-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-pyran-5-carboxylic Acid The two enantiomers (?)-(2S)- and (+)-(2R)-6-ethyl-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-2H-pyran-5-carboxylic acid ((S)- and (R)- 7 ) have been synthesized from (+)-(3S) and (?)-(3R)-3-hydroxybutanoates, respectively (Scheme 1). By reduction and decarboxylation, the tetrahydro-2H-pyranols (2R, 4R, 6S)- and (2S, 4S, 6R)- 13 , respectively, were obtained with an enantiomeric excess of ≥ 93%.     

Isolation and Characterisation of (5R, 6S,5′R,8′R)- and (5R,6S,5′R,8′S)-Luteochrome from Brazilian Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas LAM.)

Luteochrome isolated from the tubers of a white-fleshed variety of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas LAM .) has been shown by HPLC, ¹H-NMR and CD spectra to consist of a mixture of (5R,6S,5′R,8′R)- and (5R,6S,5′R,8′S)- 5,6:5′,8′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene ( 1 and 2 , resp.). Therefore, its precursor is (5R,6S,5′R,6′S)-5,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene ( 4 ). This is the first identification of luteochrome as a naturally occurring carotenoid and, at the same time, gives the first clue to the as yet unknown chirality of the widespread β,β-carotene diepoxide. These facts demonstrate that the enzymic epoxidation of the β-end group occurs from the α-side, irrespective of the presence of OH groups on the ring.