[Interaction of alpha-tocopherol with free fatty acids. Spatial organization of the complex]

Stereoconfiguration of alpha-tocopherol-linoleic acid complex was studied using high resolution IH-NMR-spectroscopy. The addition of a fatty acid (linoleate) to alpha-tocopherol solution in CDCl3 resulted in the broadening of IH-NMR lines for OH- and phe-CH3-alpha-tocopherol groups. No changes in chemical shift values of IH-NMR lines for linoleic acid were observed after the addition of alpha-tocopherol to linoleic acid solution in CDCl3. It is concluded that in the complexes formed linoleic acid is located in the phenolic ring plane of alpha-tocopherol. The conclusion is supported by the data obtained on molecular models.