| abstract |
The present invention is directed to a method of synthesizing a compound of Formula I: the method comprising oxidizing alpha-tocopherol with a metal salt oxidizing agent to form the compound of Formula I , wherein the stoichiometric ratio (mol/mol) of metal salt oxidizing agent/alpha-tocopherol is 1.6 to 4. The invention is also directed to a method of synthesizing a compound of Formula I , the method comprising (a) hydrolyzing alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the presence of a base; (b) neutralizing the hydrolyzing of (a), thereby forming alpha-tocopherol; and (c) oxidizing the alpha-tocopherol of I (b) with a metal salt oxidizing agent to form the compound of Formula I , wherein the stoichiometric ratio (mol/mol) of metal salt oxidizing agent/aipha-tocopherol is 1.6 to 4. |