title: Improved method for the synthesis of trans-feruloyl-beta-sitostanol.
abstract: Phytosterols and phytostanols are known to lower low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in humans by up to 15%, and at least two products, Benecol and Take Control, are now on the market as naturally derived fatty acid esters of phytostanols (stanol esters) and phytosterols (sterol esters), respectively. A synthetic process was developed to synthesize gram quantities of trans-feruloyl-beta-sitostanol from ferulic acid and beta-sitostanol, with high purity and yields of approximately 60%. The process involves (a) condensation of trans-4-O-acetylferulic acid with the appropriate phytostanol or phytostanol mixture in the presence of N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, (b) separation of the trans-4-O-acetylferuloyl products by preparative liquid chromatography, (c) selective deacetylation of the feruloyl acetate, and (d) chromatographic purification of the feruloylated phytostanols. The process was successfully applied to synthesize stanol trans-feruloyl esters from "Vegetable Stanols", a mixture of approximately 70:30 beta-sitostanol and beta-campestanol, in comparable purity and yield.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1600, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Condo
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C439408:3-O-(4-feruloyl)campestanol; C439407:3-O-(4-feruloyl)sitostanol; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C004999:ferulic acid; C021255:stigmastanol