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

US6369242B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Vitamins Inc. · US

Inventors

• Werner Bonrath · Kaiseraugst, CH
• Alois Haas · Bochum, DE
• Eike Hoppmann · Leipzig, DE
• Thomas Netscher · Bad Krozingen, DE
• Horst Pauling · Bottmingen, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 8, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 8, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D311/72
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

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.