Isomerization of β-Carotene. Isolation of a Stereoisomer with Increased Adsorption Affinity

Abstract

In spite of the fact that the phenomenon of carotenoid isomerization was first detected for β-carotene, our knowledge in this special case is still very incomplete. These authors crystallized an isomer which they termed pseudo-α-carotene, and which appears immediately below β-carotene on the Tswett column. Gillam first assumed that the chromatographic process itself was responsible for the partial conversion, but it was shown later that the phenomenon occurs spontaneously and independently of a chromatographic experiment. This conclusion was confirmed by Carter and Gillam.

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