The title compounds 1 and 2 from the American Cochlospermum vitifolium represent new 7 '-apocarotenoic acids with unusual structural features.The root of Cochlospermum vitifolium Willdenow (Sprengel) is used as a remedy against jaundice in Middle American folk medicine and as a dye (1). Repeated column chromatography of methanolic root extracts on organic gels yielded two major coloured fractions, which - upon methylation - were further separated using hplc. One of these fractions consisted of the methyl esters of the 8'-apocarotenoids cochloxanthin and dihydrocochloxanthin, two pigments already known from African Cochlospermum species (2,3); the second fraction gave the methyl esters of the new pigments vitixanthin (1) (Calgo -558" (CHC13)) and dihydrovitixanthin (2) ([cx~~~ -82" (CHC13)).The ei-ms of both compounds exhibit strong molecular ions at m/z 548.3136 (for 1) and 550.3297 (for 2), respectively; the only significant fragment ions occur at m/z 43.The electronic spectra show maxima (MeOH) at 422, 398, 377 and 359 (sh) nm,which indicate a carotenoid heptaene chromophor.Most characteristic features in the 'H- and 13C-nmr spectra (Tab. 1) are the signals of an isolated methylene group at 6C = 38.1 and 6B = 3.05 ppm within the double bond system and of a CH3-CO-O-CR2 unit. Homo- and heteronuclear COSY experiments establish structural details, which resemble cochloxanthin and dihydrocochloxanthin as far as the iononering and part of the carotenoid polyene chain are concerned (2,3). CD-measurements show that the absolute configuration of 1 is contrary to that of cochloxanthin (3).The all-E configuration of the heptaene system is indicated by the absence of any cis-peaks in the electronic spectra (4); the Z-configuration at the 8',9'-double bond is the result of nuclear Overhauser experiments. 1 and 2 belong to the rare group of 7'-apocarotenoids (51; the known members of this group are exclusively methyl-ketones with the carotenoid polyene system in conjugation to the ketonic carbonyl. An "isolated" methylene within the polyene system and, thereby, the separation of an a,$-unsaturated terminal carbonyl group (carboxylic acid function) from the other conjugated double bonds is unprecedented among natural carotenoids.