Roche Vitamins Inc.

Dsm IP Assets B.v.

Alois Haas

Werner Bonrath

Horst Pauling

Thomas Netscher

Eike Hoppmann

Simone Hoppmann

A process for the manufacture of (all-rac)-&#x3b1;-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed reaction of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol is characterized by carrying out the reaction in the presence of methane trisulphonate as the catalyst in an organic solvent. The product of the process is the most active and industrially most important member of the vitamin E group.

Manufacture of &#x3b1;-tocopherol

Method of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol

A method of making (all-rac.)-&agr;-tocopherol by the acid-catalyzed condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol or phytol wherein the condensation is carried out in the presence of a tris(perfluoroalkanesulphonyl or pentafluorobenzenesulphonyl)methane or a metal salt thereof as the catalyst in an organic solvent. In addition to the metal salt, a Bronsted acid, e.g. sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or p-toluenesulphonic acid, may be used as a co-catalyst. The product of the method of making is the most active member of the vitamin E group.

Tocopherol manufacture by tris(perfluorohydrocarbylsulphonyl) methane or metal methides thereof

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Bochum, Germany

Alois Haas