Approaches to the preparation of 4-benzyloxy-2-(alpha,alpha,alpha-D-3)methylphenol, a building block for labeled delta-tocopherol, and a new synthesis of R,R,R-5-D-3-alpha-tocopherol

摘要

Different routes are described for the synthesis of 4-benzyloxy-2-D-3-phenol, a key building block in the preparation of D-3-delta-tocopherol. Conditions for the improvement of Minami's reduction are also given, allowing a straightforward route to the title compound and a new synthesis of R,R,R-5-D-3-alpha-tocopherol in good yields, starting from widely available R,R,R-alpha-tocopherol. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)