SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROLQUINONE DERIVATIVES, AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

1 . A method of synthesizing a compound of Formula I:

or a stereoisomer thereof, the method comprising oxidizing alpha-tocopherol with a metal salt oxidizing agent to form the compound of Formula I, wherein a stoichiometric ratio (mol/mol) of metal salt oxidizing agent/alpha-tocopherol is 1.6 to 4.

2 . A method of synthesizing a compound of Formula I:

or a stereoisomer thereof, the method comprising:

(a) hydrolyzing alpha-tocopheryl acetate in the presence of a base;

(b) neutralizing the hydrolyzing of (a), thereby forming alpha-tocopherol; and

(c) oxidizing the alpha-tocopherol of (b) with a metal salt oxidizing agent to form the compound of Formula I, wherein a stoichiometric ratio (mol/mol) of metal salt oxidizing agent/alpha-tocopherol is 1.6 to 4.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal salt oxidizing agent is an iron halide.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the iron halide is FeCl 3 .

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal salt oxidizing agent is serially added in more than one portion.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stoichiometric ratio (mol/mol) of metal salt oxidizing agent/alpha-tocopherol is 2.5 to 3.5.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal salt oxidizing agent is added in an amount sufficient to oxidize 70% (mol/mol) to 98% (mol/mol) of the alpha-tocopherol to the compound of Formula I.

8 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising washing the product of (c) with an aqueous solution.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the base is potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the neutralizing comprises addition of an acid.

11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the alpha-tocopheryl acetate is dissolved in an alcohol before the hydrolyzing.

12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the hydrolyzing occurs at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 20° C.

13 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the alpha-tocopheryl acetate is R,R,R-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is

or a stereoisomer thereof.

15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the alpha tocopheryl acetate is isolated from a plant.

16 . A compound of Formula I, made by the method of claim 1 .

17 . A composition comprising the compound of claim 16 and an excipient, wherein the composition has less than 2% (mol/mol) gamma-tocopherolquinone relative to the compound of Formula I.

18 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the compound of Formula I is:

or a stereoisomer thereof.

19 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition has less than 0.7% (mol/mol) gamma-tocopherolquinone relative to the compound of Formula I.

20 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition has less than 0.2% (mol/mol) gamma-tocopherolquinone relative to the compound of Formula I.

21 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the compound of Formula I is greater than 70% (wt/wt) of the composition.

22 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition has less than 20% (wt/wt) of alpha-tocopheryl acetate, alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, beta-tocopherolquinone, gamma-tocopherol, or combinations thereof.

23 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition.

24 . (canceled)

25 . An oral dosage form comprising the composition of claim 23 .

26 . A method of treating a mitochondrial disorder, modulating one or more energy biomarkers, normalizing one or more energy biomarkers, or enhancing one or more energy biomarkers, comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount or effective amount of the composition of claim 23 .

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the compound of Formula I is

or a stereoisomer thereof.

28 . The method of claim 26 , comprising treating the mitochondrial disorder, wherein the mitochondrial disorder is selected from the group consisting of inherited mitochondrial diseases; Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers (MERRF); Mitochondrial Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactacidosis, Stroke (MELAS); Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON); Leigh Disease; Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS); Friedreich's Ataxia (FA); other myopathies; cardiomyopathy; encephalomyopathy; renal tubular acidosis; neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson's disease; Alzheimer's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); motor neuron diseases; other neurological diseases; epilepsy; genetic diseases; Huntington's Disease; mood disorders; schizophrenia; bipolar disorder; age-associated diseases; macular degeneration; diabetes; and cancer.

29 . The method of claim 26 , comprising treating the mitochondrial disorder, wherein the mitochondrial disorder is selected from the group consisting of inherited mitochondrial diseases; Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers (MERRF); Mitochondrial Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactacidosis, Stroke (MELAS); Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON); Leigh Disease; Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS); and Friedreich's Ataxia (FA).

30 . The method of claim 26 , comprising modulating one or more energy biomarkers, normalizing one or more energy biomarkers, or enhancing, one or more enemy biomarkers, wherein the energy biomarker is selected from the group consisting of: lactic acid (lactate) levels, either in whole blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or cerebral ventricular fluid; pyruvic acid (pyruvate) levels, either in whole blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or cerebral ventricular fluid; lactate/pyruvate ratios, either in whole blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or cerebral ventricular fluid; phosphocreatine levels, NADH (NADH+H 30 ) levels; NADPH (NADPH+H 30 ) levels; NAD levels; NADP levels; ATP levels; reduced coenzyme Q (CoQ red ) levels; oxidized coenzyme Q (CoQ OX ) levels; total coenzyme Q (CoQ tot ) levels; oxidized cytochrome C levels; reduced cytochrome C levels; oxidized cytochrome C/reduced cytochrome C ratio; acetoacetate levels, β-hydroxy butyrate levels, acetoacetate/β-hydroxy butyrate ratio, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels; levels of reactive oxygen species; levels of oxygen consumption (VO 2 ); levels of carbon dioxide output (VCO 2 ); respiratory quotient (VCO 2 /VO 2 ); exercise tolerance; and anaerobic threshold.

31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of: a subject with a mitochondrial disease; a subject undergoing strenuous or prolonged physical activity; a subject with chronic energy problems; a subject with chronic respiratory problems; a pregnant female; a pregnant female in labor; a neonate; a premature neonate; a subject exposed to an extreme environment; a subject exposed to a hot environment; a subject exposed to a cold environment; a subject exposed to an environment with lower-than-average oxygen content; a subject exposed to an environment with higher-than-average carbon dioxide content; a subject exposed to an environment with higher-than-average level of air pollution; a subject with lung disease; a subject with lower-than-average lung capacity; a tubercular patient; a lung cancer patient; an emphysema patient; a cystic fibrosis patient; a subject recovering from surgery; a subject recovering from illness; a subject undergoing acute trauma; a subject in shock; a subject requiring acute oxygen administration; a subject requiring chronic oxygen administration; an elderly subject; an elderly subject experiencing decreased energy; and a subject suffering from chronic fatigue.