Patent ID: 8841470

Claim:
A method of making a derivative of a nitrogen-containing fatty acid comprising reacting (a) an epoxidized fatty acid ester of the formula: wherein R is a branched or straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group, aromatic containing group, glycerol, or glyceride, and R′ is a C3 to C29 aliphatic chain comprising one or more oxirane rings of the formula: between the C2 and C16 carbon atoms thereof, with (b) an aryl amine of the formula R 1 —NH—R 2 , to open said oxirane ring and form a nitrogen-containing derivative of said fatty acid ester of the formula: wherein said R″ is a C3 to C29 aliphatic chain comprising one or more derivatized methylene groups of the formula: between the C2 and C16 carbon atoms thereof, wherein said R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and aryl groups, with the proviso that only one of said R 1 and R 2 may be H, and further wherein said reacting of an epoxidized fatty acid ester with said amine is conducted in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst effective for opening said oxirane ring.