Polyprenyl composition or compounds and process for the production thereof

摘要

A polyprenyl composition consisting essentially of a mixture of polyprenyl compounds represented by the following formula <IMAGE> (I) <IMAGE> wherein A1 represents a hydroxyl or acetyloxy group, <IMAGE> represents a trans-isoprene unit, <IMAGE> represents a cis-isoprene unit, and n is an integer of from 11 to 19, said mixture containing substantial amounts of at least three compounds of formula (I) wherein n represents 14, 15 and 16 respectively as essential ingredients in a total amount of at least 70% by weight based on the weight of the mixture; and new compounds derived from the polyprenyl compounds of formula (I). These composition and compounds are useful for the synthesis of mammalian dolichols. The polyprenyl composition can be prepared by extracting the leaves of Ginkgo biloba or Cedrus deodara with an oil-soluble organic solvent; if required, hydrolyzing the extract; and subjecting the extract to one or more of chromatography, fractional dissolution, fractional refrigerating precipitation and molecular distillation, thereby separating and recovering a fraction having a specified Rf value in silica thin-layer chromatography.