Allyl esters and allyl epoxy esters from crambe oil

Room temperature transesterification of crambe oil with allyl alcohol gave allyl esters previously prepared by hydrolysis of the oil and reesterification of the mixed acids at elevated temperatures. Treating the esters with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in the presence of sodium bicarbonate resulted in the selective epoxidation of ethylenic bonds and suppression of side reactions. Bifunctional allyl epoxy esters produced in 88% overall yield by this method contain 5.08% oxirane oxygen and an unsaturation equivalent to 91% allyl group; they are prospective monomers for various types of polymerization.