Process for the production of alpha-tocotrienol and derivatives

1. A process for the production, enrichment and/or isolation of alpha-tocotrienol from a plant extract that comprises at least one non-alpha tocotrienol and that optionally comprises alpha-tocotrienol, optionally comprises alpha-tocopherol and optionally comprises other tocols, non-tocols and/or organic impurities, comprising the steps of:

1a.) reacting the plant extract with suitable reagents which react with the one or more non-alpha-tocols to introduce a functional group in the free 5 and/or 7 position of the one or more non-alpha-tocols;

1b.) separating the one or more non-alpha-tocols that have been functionalized in step (1a) from the optional alpha-tocotrienol and optional alpha tocopherol and optional non-tocol compounds that may be present;

1c.) optionally further separating the alpha-tocotrienol in the mixture separated in step (1b), from the optional alpha tocopherol and from optional non-tocols;

1d.) chemically reacting the separated one or more non-alpha-tocols that have been functionalized from step (1b) to give alpha-tocotrienol; and

1e.) optionally combining the alpha-tocotrienol from step (1c) with the alpha-tocotrienol from step (1d) to give alpha-tocotrienol,

wherein step 1a.) comprises amino-alkylation performed with a formaldehyde equivalent and 1-methylpiperazine, followed by acidification;

and wherein step 1d.) comprises reduction performed with sodium cyano borohydride.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the plant extract is selected from the group consisting of a palm oil extract, a palm fruit extract, a rice extract, a rice bran extract, a barley extract, an annatto extract, and a mixture thereof.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the plant extract is a palm oil extract.

4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the plant extract is Tocomin®.

5. The process of claim 1 , additionally comprising an additional last step wherein the alpha-tocotrienol (from steps 1d and/or 1e) is oxidized to alpha-tocotrienol quinone.

6. The process of claim 3 , additionally comprising an additional last step wherein the alpha-tocotrienol (from steps 1d and/or 1e) is oxidized to alpha-tocotrienol quinone.

7. The process of claim 1 , additionally comprising a step 1b1) after step 1b), wherein a solution of the non-alpha-tocols that have been functionalized is filtered.

8. The process of claim 1 , additionally comprising a step 1d1) after step 1d) wherein a solution of the alpha-tocotrienol produced in step 1d) is mixed with silica gel, followed by removal of the silica gel by filtration.

9. The process of claim 1 , where the formaldehyde equivalent is paraformaldehyde.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein step 1d) is performed in the presence of 3-methylbutanol solvent.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the formaldehyde equivalent is paraformaldehyde, and wherein step 1d) is performed in the presence of 3-methylbutanol solvent.

12. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

or an acid salt thereof; or a tetra alkyl ammonium salt thereof.

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:

14. The compound of claim 12 , wherein the compound is an acid salt thereof.

15. The compound of claim 14 , wherein the acid salt is a formic acid salt.

16. The compound of claim 12 , wherein the compound is a tetra-alkyl ammonium salt thereof.