Oxidation of Capsanthin

SUMMARY– Oxidation of capsanthin by molecular oxygen at 40°C in the solid state is discussed. The absence of an induction period in the oxygen absorption curve indicated that oxidation does not involve the typical autoxidation pattern. A number of keto‐carotenoids such as capsanthone, 3‐keto‐kryptocapsone, and 3‐keto‐β‐apo‐8′‐carotenal were isolated in the oxidation products. Oxidation of capsanthin involves primarily the oxidation of hydroxyl groups, followed by scission of the chain at the carbon‐carbon bond α to the in‐chain carbonyl group.