To obtain a new hydroxyaldehyde derivative which is useful as a raw material for synthesizing retinal that is the basic raw material of carotenoids important in the fields of medicines, feed additives, plants, food additives, and so on.
A hydroxyaldehyde derivative of formula I. The compound of formula I is obtained by oxidizing (A) a diol derivative of formula II preferably with (B) an oxidizing agent (for example, pyridinium chlorochromate, pyridinium dichromate, manganese dioxide or selenium dioxide), for example, at 0°C to the boiling point of a solvent to be used. In the oxidation reaction, the component B is preferably used in an amount of about 1 to 10 mole times that of the component A. Retinal is obtained by removing water from the compound of formula I in the presence of an acid catalyst (or example, triphenylphosphine hydrobromide, pyridine hydrochloride, aniline hydrochloride or lutidine chloride).
KONYA NAOTO
TAKAHASHI TOSHIYA
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