Vitamin E oxidation with alkaline ferricyanide.

Oxidation of dl-alpha-tocopherol or its model, 6-hydroxy-2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman, with alkaline ferricyanide yields a variety of products. In addition to the known dimeric keto ether, two new products, compound A, a trimer, and compound B, an isomer of compound A, were ioslated. Ultraviolet and infrared absorption spectra and paper chromatography indicate that compound A might be identical with liver metabolite "O" which results from the addition of alpha-tocopherol to the diet.