Dsm IP Assets B.v.

Frank Schager

Werner Bonrath

Thomas Netscher

David Carl Burdick

Dominik Thomas

A process for the manufacture of (all-rac)-&#x3b1;-tocopherol comprises submitting isolated, purified phytyltrimethylhydroquinone to acid catalysis, thereby promoting ring closure to (all-rac)-&#x3b1;-t-tocopherol. The process can be conducted in the absence or presence of an added solvent, and when a solvent or solvent mixture is used the solvent or at least one solvent component of the solvent mixture is preferably one with a dipole moment greater than 9&#xd7;10C-m (or 2.7D). The nature of the catalyst is immaterial, but the catalyst is preferably sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, a polyperfluoroalkylenesulphonic acid, a 'NH-acid', a heteropoly acid, zinc chloride, boron trifluoride, aluminium trichloride, or a mixture of any f the aforementioned Br&#xf6;nsted acids with any of the aforementioned Lewis acids. The product of the process is the most active an industrially most important member of the vitamin E group.

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Loerrach, Germany

Frank Schager