Abstractα‐Tocopherol was synthesized from a chiral intermediate α‐hydroxy ester by means of two ring‐closing methods to yield the chromanol in 94 % diastereomeric excess.
Diastereoselective Synthesis of α-Tocopherol: A New Concept for the Formation of Chromanols
A diastereoselective synthesis of alpha-tocopherol 1 (93% de) was achieved via two key steps, (i) a highly diastereoselective Shi epoxidation of a trisubstituted alkene and (ii) an acid supported, "anti-Baldwin" epoxide ring opening under inversion of configuration leading to the 6-membered chromanol ring.