PURPOSE: To obtain the titled substance, by hydrogenating a polyprenylcarboxylic acid to give a dihydropolyprenylcarboxylic acid or its alkyl ester, converting a terminal carbosyl group, etc. to a hydroxymethyl group.
CONSTITUTION: A polyprenylcarboxylic acid shown by the formula I (A is group shown by the formula II; n is integer of 11W19) is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst or reduced by the use of Li in liquid ammonia, and, if necessary, the resultant product is changed into an ester to give a compound (novel compound) shown by the formula III (R is H, or lower alkyl), and a terminal COOR group is converted into a hydroxymethyl group to give a compound shown by the formula IV. The conversion is preferably carried out by the use of a metal hydride complex compound such as lithium aluminum hydride, etc. in an ether solvent.
USE: A compound playing an important role in sustaning life.
KINUHATA KOUICHI
OKADA MASAFUMI
MIZUNO MASAO
NISHIDA TAKUJI
