The study is devoted to optimization of synthesis of vanillylmandelic acid as an intermediate product in vanillin production and analytical determination of all components of the reaction mixture. It was noted that variation of synthesis temperature, reaction time and rate of initial reagents affects on the yield of vanillylmandelic acid. Guaiacol disubstituted by two glyoxylic acid molecules is the main impurity in vanillylmandelic acid synthesis what was identified by high resolution HPLC-MS. It is determined that it is optimal to carry out the condensation of guaiacol and glyoxylic acid at the temperature of the reaction mixture no higher than 30 °С and a mole ratio glyoxylic acid: guaiacol not less than 1: 1.5.

Extracts of coniferous plants Juniperus pseudosabina, Larix dahurica, Taxus cuspidata were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction method. In the present study, it was found that polyphenols: isoflavonoids and flavonoids, and especially flavonoglycosides, which have P-vitamin activity, constitute the most extensive group of substances in the CO2 extracts of all three plants. The CO2 extract of Taxus cuspidata can be considered as a promising alternative to Taxus berry in the role of a source for the production of individual taxanes, such as paclitaxel and docetaxel. The presence of such groups of compounds as flavanoids, isoflavanoids in the composition of CO2 extracts increases their potential as sources of biologically active compounds suitable for use as components of biologically active and feed additives with immunomodeling antioxidant properties.