the novel c dialdehyde compound which can be efficiently utilized in the synthesis of carotenoid compounds based on the sulfone chemistry , the preparation method of the same , and the expeditious and practical synthetic processes for lycopene and β - carotene by the use of the above novel compound are disclosed . the syntheses of lycopene and β - carotene are characterized by the processes of the coupling reaction between two equivalents of geranyl sulfone or cyclic geranyl sulfone and the above c dialdehyde , the functional group transformation reactions of the diol in the resulting c 40 coupling products to x &# 39 ; s , and the double elimination reactions of the functional groups of the benzenesulfonyl and x to produce the fully conjugated polyene chain of the carotenoids .