SYNTHESIS OF BETA CAROTENE BY BASF AND ROCHE SYNTHESIS

Synthesis of Carotenoids by BASF AND ROCHE synthesis

The first total synthesis of beta-carotene were reported in 1950 by Karrer and Eugster, Inhoffen et al and Milas et al . There are now many methods known, and beta-carotene is produced industrially on a large scale.Beta-carotene contains 40 carbon atoms, ie it is a C40 carotenoid. There are numerous methods of joining two or three smaller molecules to give the required carbon skeleton. These can be classified as symmetric or unsymmetric. An example of a symmetric synthesis would be

C16 + C8 + C16 = C 40

whereas an unsymmetric synthesis would be

C25 + C15 = C40

Here are two examples of industrial syntheses. The first was developed by the Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik ( BASF) and is based on the Wittig reaction. The second is a Grignard reaction, elaborated by F. Hoffman-La Roche & Co. Ltd ( Roche) from the original synthesis of Inhoffen et al. They are both symmetrical; the BASF synthesis is C20 + C 20 , and the Roche synthesis is C19 + C2 + C 19 .


BASF Synthesis of Beta Carotene












ROCHE SYNTHESIS