process for the epoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and higher esters and products thus obtained

摘要

Higher unsaturated fatty acids and esters thereof with mono and poly-hydric alcohols are epoxidised by treatment with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and acetic anhydride in the presence of not less than 0.5% of a nitrogen-containing base or ammonia or a salt thereof as catalyst, said catalyst being at least partially soluble in water and wherein the reaction components may be added in any order provided that the acetic anhydride only comes into contact with the catalyst in the presence of the other two components. The hydrogen peroxide is preferably used in amount of 1 to 1.5 mol per double bond, and the acetic anhydride in amount of at most 1 mol per double bond. The catalyst can be alkylamines such as dibutylamine, alkylolamines such as mono-, di- and tri ethanolamines, aromatic bases such as quinoline and pyridine, and ammonia and those of its salts which are hydrolised in the reaction mixture, or in equilibrium with free base such as the acetate or chloride. The reaction is preferably carried out at between 25 DEG and 30 DEG C., but if there is more than one double bond the reaction mixture is further heated at 50 to 70 DEG C. for 2 to 3 hours. Examples are given of the epoxidation of castor oil, linseed oil, methyl oleate soya bean oil, oleic acid and linoleic acid.