The invention discloses a method for synthesizing an astaxanthin intermediate by utilizing 2, 6, 6-trimethyl-3, 4-dihydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-one. The method comprises the following steps of: dispersing the 2, 6, 6-trimethyl-3, 4-dihydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-one in a non-polar solvent, adding an acid catalyst, dripping enol ether at room temperature for reaction, adding tertiary amine for termination reaction, then cooling, directly dissolving a reaction solution into an ethanol water solution with a compound obtained by reaction of an alkynyl reagent, then dripping into the ethanol water solution dissolving an acid, adding sodium carbonate for termination reaction after the end of dripping, performing reduced pressure distillation and recovery of the solvent, adding water into residues for stratification, extracting a water phase with dichloromethane, merging and drying organic phases, and then concentrating so as to synthesize the astaxanthin intermediate. The method disclosed by the invention has the advantages of high yield of products, low isomerization of the products and the like.