PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TRIMETHYLHYDROQUINE DIALKANOATES

摘要

The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a 2,3,5-trimethyl­hydroquinone dialkanoate comprising reacting ketoisophorone with an acylating agent in the presence of an indium salt as the catalyst. Preferred are indium(III) salts such as indium trichloride or indium tris (trifluoromethanesulfonate). Further aspects of the present invention are a process for the manufacture of 2,3,5-tri­methylhydroquinone using 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate as the starting mate­rial, especially a process for the manufacture of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by trans­esterification of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate, as well as a process for the manufacture of a-tocopherol and its alkanoates, especially of (all-rac)-a-tocopherol and its acetate, comprising the reaction of ketoisophorone to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialka­noate according to the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention also deals with a process for the manufacture of formulations of a-tocopherol and its alkanoates, es­pecially of formulations of (all-rac)-a-tocopherol and its acetate, comprising the reaction of ketoisophorone to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone dialkanoate according to the present invention.