(2R, 4′R, 8′R)‐ and (2S, 4′R, 8′R)‐α‐tocopherol have been synthesized by WITTIG reaction of the two enantiomeric S‐(+)‐ and R‐(−)‐6‐acetoxy‐Z‐formyl‐2,5,7, 8‐tetramethyl‐chromans (I) with (3R, 7R)‐hexahydrofarnesyl‐triphenylphosphonium bromide (II), followed by hydrogenation and hydrolysis. (2R, 4′R, 8′R)‐α‐tocopherol proved to be identical in every respect with natural so called d‐α‐tocopherol. Resolution of the chroman component was achieved via the diastereomeric quinine salts of 2‐carboxyethynyl‐6‐hydroxy‐2,5,7,8‐ tetramethyl‐chroman (XVIII). followed by transformation of the enantiomers into S‐(+)‐ and R‐(−)‐I, respectively.