ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Improved synthesis and low-temperature performance of a series of saturated α-branched fatty acids

Yang Jiang, Wenjing Hu, Jian Xu, and Jiusheng Li

Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, CAS, Shanghai, China

E-mail: lijs@sari.ac.cn

Abstract: Five saturated α-branched fatty acids, also known as Guerbet acids, including α-propylhexyl acid (G₁), α-butylhexyl acid (G₂), α-propyloctyl acid (G₃), α-butyloctyl acid (G₄), and α-hexyloctyl acid (G₅), were synthesized in high yields by four-step reaction. Colorless, almost odorless, and oily products were obtained with high purity, whose structures were confirmed by GC, ¹H/¹³C NMR, and ESI–MS characterization. G₁, G₃, and G₄ had pour points lower than −60 °C, while G₂ and G₅ showed higher pour points (−42 °C and 6 °C, respectively) because of their molecular symmetry. Considering the low-temperature properties, G₁, G₃, G₄, and even G₂ held great potential applications in the lubricant and oilfield.

Keywords: Saturated α-branched fatty acids; Guerbet acids; Low-temperature performance; Pour point

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-017-0230-8

Chemical Papers 71 (12) 2359–2363 (2017)