Highly purified tocopheryl phosphate, process for producing the same,

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a highly purified tocopheryl phosphate and/or a salt thereof (tocopheryl phosphates) wherein a P,P'-bistocopheryl hypophosphate and/or a salt thereof (P,P'-bistocopheryl diphoshates) is contained in a proportion of not higher than 3% by weight; a process for producing a highly purified tocopheryl phosphate and/or a salt thereof, which comprises the steps of reacting a tocopherol with an oxyphosphorus trihalide followed by treating with an acid or basic aqueous solution to thereby form tocopheryl phosphates (i) in which P,P'-bistocopheryl diphoshates (ii) formed as by-products are contained, hydrolyzing the P,P'-bistocopheryl diphoshates (ii) under acid condition, and, optionally, rendering the hydrolyzate neutral or basic under basic condition; and a method of analyzing tocopheryl phosphates, comprising analyzing a sample containing components (i) and (ii) with the use of a high-performance liquid chromatograph column packed with a gel of a polymethacrylate having, bonded thereto, long-chain alkyl groups. None or only an extremely minute amount of P,P'-bistocopheryl diphoshates are contained in the highly purified tocopheryl phosphates, so that the highly purified tocopheryl phosphates exhibit antioxidant and blood circulation promoting effects, have excellent water solubility, are powdery so that the handling thereof is extremely easy, are free from cutaneous irritation and allergenecity and ensure dermal safety. Therefore, the highly purified tocopheryl phosphates are useful as cosmetic ingredients. The amounts of components (i) and (ii) can be simply measured with high accuracy by the above method.