48 



METHODS OF ELUCIDATING CONSTITUTION 



VI 



depending on the quantity of oxidising agent employed. These partial oxidations 

 are also of interest because they make it possible to interconvert different 

 carotenoids and thus to prove the close relationships which exist between 

 these compounds. 



TABLE 11 



CAROTENOIDS WHICH HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY OXIDISED* 



* Details concerning the various degradation products and literature references will be 

 found in the relevant sections of the special part of this monograph. 



10. THERMAL DEGRADATION 



The thermal degradation of carotenoids is a method no longer employed to 

 any extent. The yields of identifiable degradation products are only very 

 small and, in any case, no certain conclusions can be drawn from them regarding 

 References p. 51-^2. 



