The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Lonza Inc.

Douglas A Burg

Thomas E Farina

Selim M Erhan

Robert Kleiman

A process for the production of hydroxy fatty acids and novel estolide compounds, each of which may be used as lubricants, greases, plasticizers and printing inks, as well as in cosmetics. The estolides are of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 hydrocarbons which may be saturated or unsaturated, and branched or straight chain, and optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxy groups; R.sub.2 is independently selected from C.sub.2 -C.sub.17 hydrocarbons which may be saturated or unsaturated, and branched or straight chain, and optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxy groups; A is selected from C.sub.3 -C.sub.14 hydrocarbons which may be saturated or unsaturated, and branched or straight chain, and optionally substituted; n is greater than or equal to 1; y is an integer from 3-13; x is 1 or 2; and . . . designates a single or double carbon/carbon bond. Formation of these estolides is by catalytic reaction of unsaturated fatty acids, especially .DELTA..sup.5 and .DELTA..sup.6 unsaturated fatty acids. Following their formation, the estolides may be recovered for subsequent use, or in the alternative, they may be hydrolyzed to produce hydroxy fatty acids.

Production of hydroxy fatty acids and estolide intermediates

There are provided methods for producing solid anhydrous methylolhydantoins. Initially, an aqueous stirrable medium is dehydrated and heated to yield a substantially anhydrous stirrable melt. The aqueous stirrable medium includes (A) a solute selected from the group consisting of (i) a dimethyloldimethylhydantoin, (ii) a hydantoin reactant, (iii) a formaldehyde source reactant, or (iv) a combination of any of the foregoing; and (B) optionally a catalyst. A molten system is then provided by adding, to the stirrable melt, a reactant mixture which includes (A)(i) the same or a different hydantoin reactant, (ii) a substantially anhydrous formaldehyde source reactant which may be the same as or different than the formaldehyde source reactant, or (iii) a combination thereof; and (B) optionally, the same or a different catalyst; wherein the molten system includes (i) at least one hydantoin reactant and (ii) at least one dehydrated formaldehyde source reactant or substantially anhydrous formaldehyde source reactant.

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Easton, PA, United States of America

Douglas A Burg