| abstract |
A process is provided for the preparation of an .alpha.-tocopherol derivative represented by the following formula (VII): (VII) wherein n stands for 0 or an integer of from 1 to 5. According to the process, trimethylhydroquinone and a particular allyl alcohol derivative or a specific alkenyl alcohol are subjected to a condensation reaction in the presence of a fluorosulfonate [M(RSO3)3], a nitrate [M(NO3)3] or a sulfate [M2(SO4)3], wherein M represents a scandium, yttrium or lanthanide atom, and R represents a fluorine atom, a fluorinated lower alkyl group, or an aryl group which may be substituted by one or more fluorine atoms. The lanthanide atom means a lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium or lutetium atom. |