PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-TOCOTRIENOL AND DERIVATIVES

摘要

The invention discloses novel processes for production, enrichment and/or isolation of alpha-tocotrienol from source material comprising at least one non-alpha-tocotrienol, such as natural extracts comprising mixed tocotrienols.

主权项

1. A process for the production, enrichment and/or isolation of alpha-tocotrienol from a plant extract that comprises at least one non-alpha tocotrienol and that optionally comprises alpha-tocotrienol, optionally comprises alpha-tocopherol and optionally comprises other tocols, non-tocols and/or organic impurities, comprising the steps of:
1a.) reacting the plant extract with suitable reagents which react with the one or more non-alpha-tocols to introduce a functional group in the free 5 and/or 7 position of the one or more non-alpha-tocols; 1b.) separating the one or more non-alpha-tocols that have been functionalized in step (1a) from the optional alpha-tocotrienol and optional alpha tocopherol and optional non-tocol compounds that may be present; 1c.) optionally further separating the alpha-tocotrienol in the mixture separated in step (1b), from the optional alpha tocopherol and from optional non-tocols; 1d.) chemically reacting the separated one or more non-alpha-tocols that have been functionalized from step (1b) to give alpha-tocotrienol; and 1e.) optionally combining the alpha-tocotrienol from step (1c) with the alpha-tocotrienol from step (1d) to give alpha-tocotrienol, wherein step 1a.) comprises amino-alkylation performed with a formaldehyde equivalent and 1-methylpiperazine, followed by acidification; and wherein step 1d.) comprises reduction performed with sodium cyano borohydride.