Patent ID: 6242227
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: C07D,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for producing .alpha.-tocopherol comprising:(a) biologically producing geranylgeraniol by a process selected from the group conisisting of;(i) culturing, a microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce geranylgeraniol; and recovering said geranylgeraniol; and(ii) culturing a microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce geranylgeranyl phosphate; recovering said geranylgeranylphosphate; and dephosphorylating said geranylgeranyl phosphate to produce geranylgeraniol; and(b) chemically converting said geranylgeraniol into .alpha.-tocopherol by a process comprising:(i) selectively oxidizing the 2,3-carbon-carbon double bond in geranylgeraniol to produce geranylgeraniol-2,3-epoxide;(ii) hydrogenating the three remaining carbon-carbon double bonds in said epoxide to produce epoxyphytol;(iii) deoxygenating said epoxyphytol to produce a mixture of phytol and isophytol by reaction with an oxygen acceptor; and(iv) reacting said phytol and isophytol mixture with trimethylhydroquinone to produce .alpha.-tocopherol.