Patent ID: 6664404
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: C07C,C11C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of monoesters of one or more polyhydroxyalcohols, comprising:(v)reacting the or each polyhydroxyalcohol with a glyceride estercomposition derived from a natural or synthetic source, in thepresence of tertiary butanol or tertiary amyl alcohol as reactionmedium, and a catalyst;(vi)if necessary, neutralising the catalyst;(vii)removing the tertiary butanol or tertiary amyl alcohol; and(viii)removing the unreacted polyhydroxyalcohol and any liberatedglycerol from the product mixture;characterised in that in the reaction (i) the polyhydroxyalcohol is present in mass excess relative to the glyceride ester composition: the mass ratio of reaction medium to polyhydroxyalcohol is at least 0.8:1 in the case of tertiary butanol or at least 1.3:1 in the case of tertiary amyl alcohol; the reaction is carried out at a temperature at least equal to the reflux temperature of the reaction medium and at a pressure exceeding 1 bar; and the catalyst is selected from basic salts of Group I and Group II metals and non-metallic nitrogenous bases.