A novel route for the total synthesis of ε-carotene is described. The synthesis is based on a condensation between α-cyclocitral and diethyl [(2E)-3-methoxy-2-methylprop-2-en-1-yl]phosphonate to give a C 14 enol ether, hydrolysis of the C 14 -enol ether to a give a C 14 aldehyde, and a modified Wittig-Horner reaction of the C 15 phosphonate from the C 14 aldehyde and a C 10 triene dialdehyde to give ε-carotene. The synthetic steps are easily performed and are practical for largescale production.

Practical Synthesis of -Carotene. -The developed route is supposed to be useful for a large-scale preparation of the title compound. -(WU, C.; CAO, R.; SONG, X.; LV, C.; YE, W.; PI, S.; CHEN, C.; SHEN*, R.; Synthesis 47 (2015) 4, 481-484, http://dx.

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