9497. γ-Tocopherol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 54-28-4; 7616-22-0 (dl-form)
(2R)-3,4-Dihydro-2,7,8-trimethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol; (+)-2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-6-chromanol; (R,R,R)-γ-tocopherol; 7,8-dimethyltocol; o-xylotocopherol.
C28H48O2; mol wt 416.68.
C 80.71%, H 11.61%, O 7.68%.

Description and references

One of the naturally occurring forms of vitamin E, q.v. Most abundant tocopherol in soybean and corn oils. Isoln by fractional crystn: Emerson et al., Science 83, 421 (1936); J. Biol. Chem. 113, 319 (1936); J. G. Baxter et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 65, 918 (1943). Prepn of crystalline natural form: C. D. Robeson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 65, 1660 (1943). Comparison of bioactivity with α-tocopherol, q.v.: J. G. Bieri, R. P. Evarts, J. Nutr. 104, 850 (1974). Protective effects vs reactive nitrogen oxide species: R. V. Cooney et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 1771 (1993); S. Christen et al., ibid. 94, 3217 (1997). HPLC determn in serum: A. Sobczak et al., J. Chromatogr. B 730, 265 (1999). Review of bioavailability, metabolism, and activity: Q. Jiang et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 74, 714-722 (2001).

Chemical structure

Properties

Pale yellow, viscous oil. Has been crystallized as transparent needles, mp 3 to 2°. bp0.1 200-210°. [α]546.125 2.4° (c = 8.59 in benzene); [α]546.125 +2.2° (c = 9.32 in ethanol). uv max: 298 nm (E1%1cm 92.8). Insol in water. Freely sol in oils, fats, acetone, alcohol, chloroform, ether, other fat solvents. Very stable to heat and alkalies. Slowly oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, rapidly by ferric and silver salts. Gradually darkens on exposure to light.