Facile Synthesis of (alpha),(omega)-Bis(5-(lambda)-tocopheryl)alkanes

(alpha),(omega)-Bis(5-(lambda)-tocopheryl)alkanes were prepared in a high yield, one-pot procedure starting from (lambda)-tocopherol. The reaction involves acylation by carboxylic acid anhydrides to intermediate bis(phenones), which are subsequently reduced directly to the target alkylphenols by borohydride via ortho-quinone methide intermediates. Ethyl chloroformate acts as an auxiliary in both steps.