Method for production of beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-cryptoxanthin from commerically available lutein

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of reacting (3R,3′R,6′R)-lutein with a catalytic amount of an acid to obtain a mixture of anhydroluteins, rich in anhydrolutein III, with substantially no Z-isomers being formed. The mixture is converted to (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin (major product) and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin (minor product) by reacting the anhydroluteins with borane-amine complexes (e.g. Me₃N.BH₃) or other hydride donors and an acid in a chlorinated solvent, preferably dichloromethane, at ambient temperature to produce (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin.