Title:  Phytol 
CAS Registry Number:  150-86-7 
CAS Name:  (2E,7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol 
Additional Names:  2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadec-14-en-16-ol 
Molecular Formula:  C20H40O 
Molecular Weight:  296.53 
Percent Composition:  C 81.01%, H 13.60%, O 5.40% 
Literature References:  Decompn product of chlorophyll:  Willstätter, Ann. 354, 205 (1907); 371, 1 (1909); 378, 1, 73 (1911); 418, 121 (1918).  Synthesis:  Fischer, Löwenberg, Ann. 475, 183 (1929); Karrer, Ringier, Helv. Chim. Acta 22, 610 (1939); Karrer et al., ibid. 26, 1741 (1943); from ethyl levulinate:  Lukes, Zobacova, Chem. Listy 51, 330 (1957); from acetone:  Sato et al., J. Org. Chem. 32, 177 (1967).  Stereochemistry:  Burrell et al., Proc. Chem. Soc. London 1959, 263.  Abs config:  Crabbe et al., ibid. 1959, 264.  Stereochemistry and synthesis:  Burrell et al., J. Chem. Soc. C 1966, 2144.  Stereoselective total synthesis of natural phytol:  T. Fujisawa et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 22, 4823 (1981); M. Schmid et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 65, 684 (1982).  Review:  J. Simonsen, D. H. R. Barton, The Terpenes vol. III (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1952) pp 345-349. 
Properties:  Oily liquid.  d425 0.8497.  nD25 1.4595.  bp10 203-204°; bp0.03 145°.  uv max (abs alcohol):  212 nm (log e 3.04), Bader, Helv. Chim. Acta 34, 1632 (1951).  Practically insol in water; sol in the usual organic solvents. 
Boiling point:  bp10 203-204°; bp0.03 145° 
Index of refraction:  nD25 1.4595 
Absorption maximum:  uv max (abs alcohol):  212 nm (log e 3.04), Bader, Helv. Chim. Acta 34, 1632 (1951) 
Density:  d425 0.8497 
Use:  Preparation of vitamins E and K1.   |