Absolute configuration of eschscholtzxanthin

The chirality of eschscholtzxanthin (all-trans (3S,3′S)-4′,5′-didehydro-4,5′-retro-β,βcarotene-3,3′-diol) at 3,3′ was assigned from the CD correlation of the natural material and the semi-synthetic carotenoid prepared by (NBS-dehydrogenation of natural zeaxanthin ((3R,3′R)-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol). The δ^6(6′)-trans configuration followed from ¹H NMR evidence, including nuclear Overhauser experiments with rhodoxanthin, retrodehydro-carotene (4′,5′-didehydro-4,5′-retro-β,β-carotene) and smaller retro model compounds revealing a general preference for the δ⁶-trans configuration in retro compounds. Biosynthetic considerations are made.