| abstract |
A process for the manufacture of a tocyl acylate or a tocopheryl acylate comprises reacting tocol or a tocopherol with an acylating agent in the presence of a catalyst of the general formula HC1R2R3, wherein R1, R2 and R3 each signify the sulpho group, or R1, R2 and R3 each signify a perfluoroalkylsulphonyl group whereby at least two of R1, R2 and R3 are identical such perfluoroalkyl-sulphonyl groups, or R1 signifies the pentafluorophenyl-sulphonyl group and R2 and R3 each signify an identical perfluoroalkylsulphonyl group. The main commercial form of vitamin E, being (all-rac)-α-tocapheryl acetate, can be manufactured by acylation of (all-rac)-α-tocopherol according to this process. |