Some effects ofy‐radiation or linoleate peroxidation ona‐tocopherol

When α‐tocopherol was irradiated in isooctane, the main product appeared to be a 5‐exo‐methylene tocopher‐6‐one derived by the abstraction of two hydrogen atoms from tocopherol. When tocopherol was irradiated in tributyrin, transesterification was found to be a major reaction. Results with three solvents show that the irradiation products of tocopherol are complex and dependent on the solvent. In peroxidizing linoleic acid, α‐tocopherol was oxidized to α‐tocopheryl quinone, but no radical‐tocopherol addition products were detected.