GB966026A - Fatty acid esters with xylite and their oxyethylation products - Google Patents

Abstract

Cyclic xylite esters of fatty acids containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms are prepared by reacting one mole of the acid with a fraction of a mole of excess xylite by direct fusion at a temperature between 180 DEG -260 DEG C.; if desired, the reaction may be effected in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, for example, sodium or potassium hydroxide and under an inert gas. During the reaction, dehydration of the xylite apparently occurs yielding the mono- and di-anhydro forms of the polyhydric alcohol. The esters, stated to be novel, have dispersing, emulsifying, softening and cleansing properties, and may be rendered hydrophilic by reaction with ethylene oxide at a temperature between 120 DEG -180 DEG C., under 2-3 atmospheres pressure and in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. In examples (1) to (4), (7) and (8), xylite (1.15 mole) is reacted with one mole of stearic, oleic, palmitic, lauric or linoleic acid yielding after washing with water, wax-like esters generally being a mixture of mono- and di-esters; the esters obtained using stearic acid are in (5) and (6) reacted with ethylene oxide yielding oily oxy-ethylated products.