| Abstract: | Free Radical Additions to Unsaturated Fatty Acids Unsaturated fatty acids e.g. oleic acid are 1,2-dialkyl substituted alkenes with an electron-rich C,C-double bond. Elektrophilic free radicals can be added to the double bond to give functionalized and branched fatty acids. The electrophilic free radicals have been generated a) by oxidation of enolizable compounds by manganese (III) acetate prepared in situ by addition of potassium permanganate to catalytic amounts of manganese (II) acetate; b) with di-tert.-butylperoxide as initiator. Free radical addition of the radical to methyl oleate occurs to give an adduct radical which can be stabilized by hydrogen transfer or by oxidative elimination with copper (II) acetate. We have been able to add also alkanes e.g. cyclohexane to methyl oleate. A review of free radical additions to oleic acid is given. |
