Method of synthe^ng glyseryl mono-esters
Field of the invention
This invention reiates to the synthesis of glyceryl mono-esters.
Background to the invention
It Is well known that when organic acids are heated with primary or secondary alcohols an equilibrium condition is established with the ester and water. This process is known as esteriflcation and is used inter alia to produce certain glyceryl mono-esters which are used as lubricants in synthetic plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. These mono-esters include glyceryl onostearatθ and glyceryl monooleate.
A currently used method of manufacture of these compounds is by the esterificatioπ of glycerol {1 ,2,3-propanetrioI) with a fatty acid. During this reaction, glyceryl mono-, di- and tri- esters ere formed. This presents a problem as the ability of the product to act as a lubricant in synthetic plastics is diminished due to the presence of the di- and tri- ester. For this reason, an expensive separation process is required to separate the desired glyceryl mono-ester from the other compounds formed. This separation process greatly increases the cost of the glyceryl mono-ester,
Glyceryl p-Aminobenzoate is also synthesized by the esterification of p- aminobeπzoic acid with glycerol. This compound is used in cosmetic sunscreen preparations. Likewise glycerol monolaurate, which Is used in polishing compounds,
and glycerol monoacetate which is used in tanning can be produced by an esterification process based on glyceryl,
Brief summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a glycerol monoester which comprises reacting epichlorohydrin with the metal salt of an organic acid to form an ester compound ith a closed expoxide ring, and opening the closed expoxide ring.
Said metal salt can be sodium stearate, sodium oleatθ, the sodium salt of p- arninobenzoic acid or sodium acetate. Other salts such as potassium, lithium, magnesium and calcium can be used.
Said acid can be a fatty acid, an aliphatic acid or an aromatic carboxyl acid.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a glycerol mono-ester which comprises reacting epichlorohydrin with the metal salt of an acid selected from lauric acid, myrlstlc acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, acetic acid, linolenlc acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid and p-aminobenzoic acid to form an ester compound with a closed expoxide ring, and thereafter opening the closed expoxide ring using an acid catalysed aqueous solution.
The invention also provides a method which comprises reacting epichlorohydrin with the metal salt of a fatty acid, aliphatic acid or aromatic carboxylic acid as follows:-
CH SH-CH. + Na O- CC?-RR →→ CClHϊ-CH-CH -0-6^ R + NaCi
Where Is a Cl to C30 branch or straight chained aliphatic or aromatic compound, and thereafter opening the closed expoxide ring by acid catalyzation.
Examples of suitable metal salts are the metal salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linoϊenic acid and p-Aminobenzαic acid.
Detailed description of he invention
The present invention is primarily Intended to synthesize glygeryl monostearate and glyceryl monooleate but other mono stearates can also be synthesized. By reacting epichlorohydrin with sodium stearate an epoxide ester is formed which Is the precursor to glyceryl monostearate, and with sodium oieate to form an epoxide ester which is the precursor to glyceryl monooleate. By reacting epichlorohydrin with the sodium salt of p-aminobeπzαic acid there is formed an epoxide ester which Is the precursor to glyceryl p-a inobenzoate, In all three cases the epoxide ring is then opened using the acid-catalyzed addition of water. Specific examples of the method are described below:-
Example 1 a) Glyceryl monostearate.
An amount of 284,4g of sodium stearate is weighed out and placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. An excess (250g) of epichlorohydrin Is then added to the reaction vessel. A Dean and Stark apparatus with a drain tap is then attached to the reaction vessel and a Dlmroth condenser is placed on the Dean and Stark apparatus. All ground joints are greased with vacuum grease.
The reaction is run under reflux conditions for about two hours at about 100 degrees C but temperatures of above and below this figure can be used.
The sodium stearate is not readily soluble in the epichlorohydrin and the reaction can be seen to be going to completion when the stearate is in solution and sodium chloride crystals have formed In the solution. The reaction goes to completion as follows:-
+ NaCI
Excess epichlorohydrin Is allowed to distil off by draining it away through the Dean and Stark apparatus. A vacuum pump can be used to aid in removal of excess epichlorohydrin.
The remaining solution is then filtered to remove the sodium chloride crystals using a Buechner funnel and a filter flask.
The product thus obtained is not the final product as it has a closed epoxide ring. To open the epoxide ring 250ml of a 2% sulphuric acid solution is added to the filtrate and reflυxing is continued for a further hour at about 100 degrees C.
The reaction is as foltows;-
CH -(OH ) -C-O-CH -CH-CH + H O → CHr(CH ) -C-O-CH -C -CH,
Excess water Is drawn off under vacuum to obtain glyceryl monostearate.
b) Glyceryl mono oieate
An amount of 304g of sodium oieate is weighed out and placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. An excess (25Qg) of epichlorohydrin is then added to the reaction vessel. A Dean and Stark apparatus with a drain tap is then attached to the reaction vessel and a Dirnroth condenser is placed on the Dean and Stark apparatus. All ground joints are greased with vacuum grease.
The sodium oieate is not readliy soluble in the epichlorohydrin and the reaction can be seen to be going to completion when the oieate Is in solution and sodium chloride crystals have formed in the solution. The reaction goes to completion as follows:-
CH 1 - H-CH. +
Excess epichlorohydrin is allowed to distil off by draining it away through the Dean and Stark apparatus. A vacuum pump can be used to aid in removal of excess epichlorohydrin,
The remaining solution Is then filtered to remove the sodium chloride crystals using a Buechner funnel and a filter flask.
The product thus obtained is not the final product as It has a closed epoxide ring, To open the epoxide ring 250ml of a 2% sulphuric acid solution is added to the filtrate and refluxing is continued for a further hour at about 100 degrees C,
Excess water is drawn off under vacuum to obtain glyceryl mono oieate,
Example c) Production of Glyceryl p-Aminobenzoate
An amount of 159g of the sodium salt of p-aminobenzoic acid is weighed out and placed in an Ertenmeyer flask. An excess (250g) of epichlorohydrin is then added to the reaction vessel. A Dean and Stark apparatus with a drain tap is then attached to the reaction vessel and a Dimroth condenser Is placed on the Dean and Stark apparatus. Ail ground joints are greased with vacuum grease.
The reaction is run under reflux conditions for about two hours at about 100 degrees C. The reaction goes to completion as follows;-
Excess epichlorohydrin is allowed to distil off by όrain g it away through the Dean and Stark apparatus. A vacuum pump can be used to aid in removal of excess epichlorohydrin.
The remaining solution is then filtered to remove the sodium chloride crystals using a Buechner funnel and a filter flask.
The product thus obtained Is not the final product as it has a closed epoxide ring. To open the epoxide ring 250ml of a 2% sulphuric acid solution Is added to the filtrate and refluxing is continued for a further hour at about 100 degrees C.
The reaction is as follows
Excess water is drawn off under vacuum to obtain glyceryl monostearte
Examptø 4 d) Glyceryl acetate.
An amount of 82,04g of sodium acetate is weighed out and placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. An excess (250g) of epichlorohydrin is then added to the reaction vessel. A Dean and Stark apparatus with a drain tap is then attached to the reaction vessel and a Dimroth condenser is placed on the Dean and Stark apparatus, Ail ground joints are greased with vacuum grease.
The reaction is run under reflux conditions for about two hours at about 100 degrees C but temperatures of above and below this figure can be used. Excess epichlorohydrin is allowed to distil off by draining it away through the Dean and Stark apparatus. A vacuum pump can be used to aid in removal of excess epichlorohydrin.
The remaining solution is then filtered to remove the sodium chloride crystals using a Bueσhner funnel and a filter flask.
The product thus obtained is not the final product as it has a closed epoxide ring. To open the epoxide ring 250ml of a 2% sulphuric acid solution is added to the filtrate and refluxing is continued for a further hour at about 100 degrees C.
Excess water Is drawn off under vacuum to obtain glyceryl acetate.
Exsynple 5
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