Production of branched-chain fatty acids from sterculia oil

Methyl sterculate was rearranged by use of 0.5% of rhodium catalyst to isomeric conjugated diene fatty acid methyl esters containing both methylene-and methyl-branched isomers. The rearanged products were hydrogenated directly to saturated, methyl-substituted, branched-chain fatty acid methyl esters with the methyl substituent at one of the positions formerly occupied by the cyclopropenoid ring. The crude branched-chain fatty acids from these esters were purified by recrystallization from a mixed solvent of ethanol and water (80:20, v/v) and flash distillation; the product contained about 90% of branched-chain fatty acids (C₁₉:80%, C₁₈:10%). Esters of the branched-chain fatty acid were prepared with 2-ethylhexyl alcohol or trimethylolpropane, and the characteristic properties of these esters were investigated. The branched-chain fatty esters appear to have potential utility in lubricants; other uses may be possible. Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans, May 1981.