Dsm IP Assets B.v.

Manfred Breuninger

Werner Bonrath

Thomas Netscher

Marcel Joray

Grégory Malaisé

Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol, characterized by reacting 4-chloroacetyl-catechol with a metal formate and formic acid in an aqueous solvent optionally containing a lower alkanol and catalytically hydrogenating the 4-hydroxyacetyl-catechol obtained in the presence of a precious metal, preferably on a carrier.

Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol

The present invention is concerned with a novel process for the manufacture of 4alkanoyloxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl (E/Z)-phytyl ethers, precursors of &#x3b1;-tocopheryl alkanoates, by cross-metathesis reaction of alkenyl ethers of 1-alkanoyloxy-2,3,6-trimethylhydroquinone with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecene or a phytol derivative, e.g. an ester, an ether or a silyl ether, in the presence of a cross-metathesis catalyst. As the crossmetathesis catalyst especially ruthenium metal carbene complexes are suitable which possess (a) ruthenium metal center(s), have an electron count of 16 or 18 and are penta- or hexa-coordinated. A further object of the invention is a process for the manufacture of &#x3b1;tocopheryl alkanoates comprising this reaction.

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Bad Saeckingen, Germany

Manfred Breuninger