Formation of alpha-tocopherol complexes with fatty acids. Nature of complexes.

Using ultraviolet spectrophotometry and 1H-NMR high-resolution spectroscopy, it has been demonstrated that the formation of alpha-tocopherol complexes with free fatty acids occurs via two types of interaction, namely formation of a hydrogen bond between the alpha-tocopherol chromanol nucleus hydroxyl and the carboxyl group of a fatty acid, and interaction of the fatty acid acyl chains with the chromanol nucleus methyl groups. The second interaction is significantly enhanced by an increase in the number of double bonds in the fatty acid molecule, which results in restriction of the molecular mobility of alpha-tocopherol. The proposed structural model of alpha-tocopherol-fatty acid complexes has been confirmed by the use of molecular models. It has been assumed that the efficiency of complex formation of natural tocopherols with fatty acids is correlated with their biological activity.