Synthesis of vitamin a active compounds containing repeated isoprene units

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF SYNTHESIZING VITAMIN A FROM B-IONONE WHICH COMPRISES CONVERTING B-IONONE TO B-IONOLACETIC ACID ESTER BY REACTING B-IONONE WITH A HOLOACETATE IN THE PRESENCE OF A METAL CATALYST SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ZINC AND MAGNESIUM AND HYDROLYZING THE PRODUCT OF SAID REACTION WITH AQUEOUS ACID, DEHYDRATING SAID B-IONALACETIC ACID ESTER TO B-IONYLIDENE ESTER ACID ESTER, REDUCING SAID B-IONYLIDENE ACETIC ACID ESTER TO B-IONYLIDENE ETHANOL BY REACTING SAID B-IONYLIDENE ACETIC ACID ESTER WITH AN ALUMINUM-CONTAINING HYDRIDE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF LITHIUM ALUMINUM HYDRIDE AND ALUMINUM-CONTAINING HYDRIDE AND HYDROLYZING THE RESULTING PRODUCT, OXIDIZING SAID B-IONYLIDENE ETHANOL TO AN EIGHTEEN CARBON ATOM KETONE BY REACTING SAID B-IONYLIDENE ETHANOL WITH ACETONE IN THE PRESENCE OF A METAL ALKOXIDE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM ALKOXIDES AND MAGNESIUM ALKOXIDES, CONVERTING SAID KETONES TO A-HYDRO-B-HYDROXY VITAMIN A ACID ESTER BY REACTING SAID KETONE WITH A HALOACETTE IN THE PRESENCE OF A METAL CATALYST SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ZINC AND MAGNESIUM AND HYDROLYZING THE PRODUCT OF SAID REACTION WITH AQEOUS ACID, DEHYDRATING SAID A-HYDRO-BHYDROXY VITAMIN A ACID ESTER OF VITAMIN A ACID ESTER, AND REDUCING SAID VITAMIN A ACID ESTER TO VITAMIN A ALCOHOL BY REACTING SAID VITAMIN A ACID ESTER WITH AN ALUMINUM-CONTAINING HYDRIDE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM HYDRIDE AND LITHIUM ALUMINUM HYDRIDE AND HYDROLYZING THE RESULTING PRODUCT TO VITAMIN A ALCOHOL.