| α-Tocopherol[1] | |
|---|---|
|
(2R)-2,5,7,8-Tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)]-6-chromanol |
|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 59-02-9 |
| PubChem | 14985 |
| ChemSpider | 14265 |
| UNII | N9PR3490H9 |
| EC number | 200-412-2 |
| DrugBank | DB00163 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:18145 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL47 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 Image 2 |
|
|
|
|
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C29H50O2 |
| Molar mass | 430.71 g/mol |
| Density | 0.950 g/cm³ |
| Melting point |
2.5–3.5 °C |
| Boiling point |
200–220 °C at 0.1 mmHg |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
|
| Infobox references | |
α-Tocopherol is a type of tocopherol with formula C29H50O2. It has E number "E307".
α-Tocopherol is a form of vitamin E that is preferentially absorbed and accumulated in humans.[2] The measurement of "vitamin E" activity in international units (IU) was based on fertility enhancement by the prevention of spontaneous abortions in pregnant rats relative to alpha-tocopherol.
There are three stereocenters in alpha-tocopherol, so this is a chiral molecule.[3] The eight stereoisomers of alpha-tocopherol differ in the arrangement of groups around these stereocenters. In the image of RRR-alpha-tocopherol, all three stereocenters are in the R form. However, if the middle of the three stereocenters were changed (so the hydrogen was now pointing down and the methyl group pointing up), this would become the structure of RSR-alpha-tocopherol. RSR-alpha-tocopherol and RRR-alpha-tocopherol are diastereomers of each other. These stereoisomers can also be named in an alternative older nomenclature, where the stereocenters are either in the d or l form.[4]
1 IU of tocopherol is defined as ⅔ milligrams of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (formerly named d-alpha-tocopherol or sometimes ddd-alpha-tocopherol). 1 IU is also defined as 1 milligram of an equal mix of the eight stereoisomers, which is a racemic mixture called all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. This mix of stereoisomers is often called dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, even though it is more precisely dl,dl,dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate). However, 1 IU of this racemic mixture is not now considered equivalent to 1 IU of natural (RRR) α-tocopherol, and the Institute of Medicine and the USDA now convert IU's of the racemic mixture to milligrams of equivalent RRR using 1 IU racemic mixture = 0.45 "milligrams α-tocopherol".[5]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||