Tocopherol acetate ([(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate) is a natural product, a modified, hydrolysed form of vitamin E, which is difficult to oxidise and has the same colour.

"Tocopheryl acetate" is the same product, but synthetic, obtained industrially by a chemical process.

It comes in the form of a yellowish oil or as a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It is a powerful antioxidant, basically a vitamin E. (see Vitamin E), has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce local bacterial growth, thereby promoting wound healing.  Liposoluble, it helps protect membrane lipids from peroxidation when taken orally. 

Cosmetics

It is used in cosmetic products for the skin, in toothpastes and has also been shown to reduce sunburn after exposure to UV rays. It also acts as a humectant when vitamin E is applied to the skin and neutralises free radicals(1).

Tocopherol acetate in topical gel form together with isotretinoin improved skin sensitivity and can be used as a non-irritating topical formulation for the treatment of acne (2).

In a preparation including some polysorbates, Tween 20, 40, 60, and 80, Tocopherol acetate has demonstrated in vitro antioxidant activity and efficacy in skin regeneration (3).

It has no contraindication for safety.

Tocopherol acetate studies

Typical optimal commercial product characteristics Tocopherol acetate oil

• Molecular Formula    C₃₁H₅₂O₃
• Molecular Formula   472.754 g/mol
• UNII   A7E6112E4N
• CAS   58-95-7  12741-00-3  133-80-2  1407-18-7  54-22-8  1406-70-8  26243-95-8  7695-91-2  52225-20-4
• EC Number: 231-710-0  257-757-7  200-405-4
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID3021356    DTXSID1031096
• IUPAC  [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate
• InChI=1S/C31H52O3/c1-21(2)13-10-14-22(3)15-11-16-23(4)17-12-19-31(9)20-18-28-26(7)29(33-27(8)32)24(5)25(6)30(28)34-31/h21-23H,10-20H2,1-9H3/t22-,23-,31-/m1/s1 
• InChl Key      ZAKOWWREFLAJOT-CEFNRUSXSA-N
• SMILES   CC1=C(C(=C(C2=C1OC(CC2)(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)C)OC(=O)C)C
• PubChem Substance ID 24900095    24899940
• MDL number MFCD00072052
• Beilstein Registry Number 97512
• eCl@ss    34058007
• ChEBI    32321
• NACRES  NA.79    NA.75
• RTECS   GP8280000

Synonyms: 

• Vitamin E acetate
• α-tocopherol acetate
• alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Tocopheryl acetate
• Alfacol
• Natur-E granulate
• DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate
• (+-)-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Ecofrol
• 58-95-7
• Contopheron
• Tofaxin
• Econ
• Covitol 1360
• Vitamin Ealpha acetate
• alpha-Tocopheryl acetate
• DL-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate
• Vitamin E acetate, d-
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• 2,5,7,8-Tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-6-cromanyl acetate, (+)-
• 6-Cromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (+)-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R-(2*(4R*,8R*)))-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, [2R-[2R*(4R*,8R*)]]- 
• (R,R,R)-.alpha.-Tocopheryl acetate
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate
• 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• (2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-6-yl acetate
• 6-Chromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (+)-
• (2R)-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol 6-Acetate
• 6-Chromanol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate
• (2R*(4R*,8R*))-(1)-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate, analytical standard
• DL-alpha-Tocopherol acetate, EP/USP/FCC grade
• [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]chroman-6-yl] acetate
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, 6-acetate, (2R)-
• 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-b- enzopyran-6-ol, acetate
• [2R-[2R*(4R,8R*)]]-3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol acetate
• [(2R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-[(4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl]-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl] acetate
• [2R*(4R*,8R*)]-()-3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
• 1406-70-8
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R)-
• 2H-1-Benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((4R,8R)-4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-, acetate, (2R)-rel-
• Ephynal acetate
• Tokoferol acetate
• D-alpha-tocopherol acetate
• Tocopherex
• Evipherol
• Fertilvit
• Tocophrin
• Erevit
• Gevex
• Juvela
• Combinal E
• Tocopheryl acetate
• D-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
• Epsilan-M
• E-Toplex
• E-Ferol
• Endo E Dompe
• Spondyvit
• (+)-alpha-Tocopherol acetate
• Copherol 1250
• Covitol 1100

References___________________________________________________

(1) Teo BS, Basri M, Zakaria MR, Salleh AB, Rahman RN, Rahman MB. A potential tocopherol acetate loaded palm oil esters-in-water nanoemulsions for nanocosmeceuticals. J Nanobiotechnology. 2010 Feb 23;8:4. doi: 10.1186/1477-3155-8-4.

(2) Gupta S, Wairkar S, Bhatt LK. Isotretinoin and α-tocopherol acetate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle topical gel for the treatment of acne. J Microencapsul. 2020 Dec;37(8):557-565. doi: 10.1080/02652048.2020.1823499. 

(3) Caddeo C, Manca ML, Peris JE, Usach I, Diez-Sales O, Matos M, Fernàndez-Busquets X, Fadda AM, Manconi M. Tocopherol-loaded transfersomes: In vitro antioxidant activity and efficacy in skin regeneration. Int J Pharm. 2018 Nov 15;55