Water → Astaxanthin

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a suitable flask was added 20 grams of a natural product mixture containing 12.2 grams zeaxanthin (21.4 mmoles) slurried in 200 ml of chloroform. To this mixture was added a solution of 8.05 gms (53.3 mmoles) of sodium bromate. To this mixture was added dropwise over three hours at temperatures between 20 to 30° C., 8 ml of a solution prepared by dissolving 6.66 gms of sodium metabisulfite in 24 ml of water. After addition, the reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the aqueous phase was separated. The chloroform was removed by vacuum evaporation at 40-42° C. The resulting slightly wet solid was added to 190 ml of warm (50° C.) 95% ethanol. The mixture was stirred and cooled slowly to −10° C. The resulting solid was filtered off and dried under vacuum to produce 8.8 grams (72.14%) yield of astaxanthin product containing greater than 25% astaxanthin.

Provenance & Evidence