PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT SYNTHETIC METHOD OF RETINOIC ACID AND ITS DERIVATIVES

摘要

The present invention provides allylic disulfone of Chemical Formula 1, an important intermediate which can be used for syntheses of retinoids and carotenoids, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing retinoid compounds by using the said intermediate, and, in particular, a process for preparing retinoic acid of Chemical Formula 2 and alkyl retinoate of Chemical Formula 3. The process for preparing allylic disulfone compound of Chemical Formula 1 employs cyclo-geranyl sulfone, which reacts with C5 haloallylic sulfide to give rise to the chain-extended C15 thio-sulfone compound. The thio-sulfone compound is selectively oxidized to give allylic disulfone of Chemical Formula 1. The C15 disulfone compound reacts with C5 halo-acid or C5 halo-ester under the condition using excess base, which induces coupling and subsequent desulfonation reactions to give retinoic acid of Chemical Formula 2 or alkyl retinoate of Chemical Formula 3.