Yellow Reaction Products from Tocopherols and Trimethylamine Oxide

Characteristic yellow substances obtained when tocopherols were treated with trimethylamine oxide under a nitrogen stream at 180°C were purified by means of silicagel column chromatography and preparative TLC. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic studies.Treatment of α-tocopherol with trimethylamine oxide gave 7-formyl-β-tocopherol, 5-formyl-γ-tocopherol-3-en and 5-formyl-γ-tocopherol. Yellow reaction products from γ- and (δ-tocopherols with trimethylamine oxide were 5-formyl-γ-tocopherol and 5-formyl-δ-tocopherol, respectively.