Patent number: 5908939
Abstract: A process for the manufacture of d,1-.alpha.-tocopherol by the catalyzed condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol comprises carrying out the condensation in the presence of bis-(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)amine ?HN(SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3).sub.2 ! or a metal salt thereof of the formula Met ?N(SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3).sub.2 !.sub.n (I), wherein Met signifies a metal atom selected from the group of lithium, boron, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, scandium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, zirconium, rhodium, palladium, silver, tin, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, europium, dysprosium, ytterbium, hafnium, platinum and gold and n signifies the corresponding valency (1, 2, 3, or 4) of the metal atom Met, as the catalyst or of a combination of a metal salt of formula I and a strong Bronsted acid as the catalyst system in an organic solvent. The product of the process is the most active member of the vitamin E group.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 1997
Date of Patent:
June 1, 1999
Assignee:
Roche Vitamins Inc.
Inventors:
Marcel Baak, Werner Bonrath, Horst Pauling