The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 13, 2005
Applicants:
Mark B. Erman, Atlantic Beach, FL (US);
Joe W. Snow, Kingsland, GA (US);
Inventors:
Mark B. Erman, Atlantic Beach, FL (US);
Joe W. Snow, Kingsland, GA (US);
Assignee:
Millennium Specialty Chemicals, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C07C 69/66 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A simple, high-yield process for making menthyl lactate (ML) is disclosed. Menthol and lactic acid react to produce a mixture comprising menthyl lactate and one or more higher lactoyl esters of ML. Hydrolysis of the esterification mixture follows in the presence of aqueous base under conditions effective to convert the higher lactoyl esters to menthyl lactate. Coincidentally, the conditions minimize hydrolysis of menthyl lactate to menthol, thereby maximizing the overall yield of ML.