PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL

PURPOSE: To safely, economically and advantageously obtain high-purity α-tocopherol useful as medicines, etc., such as a hypolipidemic agent or a bloodstream promoter without causing the environmental pollution by condensing trimethylhydroquinone with (iso)phytols in the presence of a specific (mixed) solvent. CONSTITUTION: The condensing reaction of (B) trimethylhydroquinone of formula I with (C) a compound of formula II (L is OH, a halogen, acetoxy, etc.) or isophytol of formula III is carried out in the presence of (A) a carbonic acid ester (e.g. dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate or dipropyl carbonate), (A1 ) a lower fatty acid ester of the formula R COOR (R is a 1-4C alkyl; R is a 1-5C alkyl except methyl acetate and ethyl acetate) (e.g. propyl acetate, n-butyl propionate or ethyl pivalate), a mixed solvent of (A2 ) a nonpolar solvent (e.g. pentane, octane or xylene) with a 1-6C alcohol or a mixed solvent of the ester (A1 ) with the solvent (A2 ). Thereby, the objective compound is obtained.