Studies on the photochemistry of vision

The subject of this study is the preparation of 11-cis and 9-cis retinals deuterated at specific positions of the chain with a high deuterium incorporation and a high chemical purity. The reaction of opsin with these compounds gives rhodopsin and isorhodopsin with a deuterium label on the predetermined positions of the chromophore. For the introduction of the deuterium the author has used the conversion of a propargyl alcohol into an ethylenic alcohol by the LiAlH4 reductive method. (Auth./C.F.)