A Short Method for the Synthesis of Alpha-Tocopherol Side Chain

Abstract

<em>The enzymatic hydrolysis of meso-1,7-diacetoxy-2,6-dimethylheptane 5, prepared from 2,6-dimethylhepta-1,6-diene 6, gave the (2S,6R)-7-acetoxy-2,6-dimethyl-1-heptanol 1, which was transformed to the (2R,6R)-2,6,10-trimethyl-1-undecanol 7. In this manner, the C₁₄ side chain of </em><em>a</em><em>-Tocopherol was synthesized from 2,6-dimethylhepta-1,6-diene 6 in only 5 steps.</em>