Synthesis of higher polyol fatty acid polyesters using high soap:polyol ratios

摘要

An improved solvent-free transesterification provess for producing higher polyol fatty acid polyesters is disclosed. In this process a mixture of a polyol, a fatty acid methyl, 2-methoxy ethyl or benzyl ester, an alkali metal fatty acid soap, and a basic catalyst, having a molar ratio of soap:polyol of from about 0.6:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 0.75:1 to about 1:1, is heated to form a homogeneous melt. To this melt is subsequently added excess fatty acid methyl, 2-methoxy ethyl or benzyl ester, yielding the desired polyol fatty acid polyesters.