The Structure of Vaucheriaxanthin

Abstract

Abstract Vaucheriaxanthin is 19'-0H and not 19-OH neoxanthin. This structural conclusion was borne out by mass, PMR and infrared (IR) spectra from the free pigment and its derivatives (vaucheria- xanthal, vaucheriaxanthal-diacetate, vaucheriaxanthal-diacetate-mono (trimethylsilyl) -ether, vaucheria- xanthintriacetate- and triacetate-monosilanate, vaucheriaxanthin-dimethylether) and by comparison of the characteristic lines of epoxi-xanthophylls at mje 181 and m/e 221 in the mass spectrum