Saturated branched fatty acids containing 20 to 28 carbon atoms or esters thereof with C1-36 alkanols, a process for their production and their use

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP91/00053 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 24, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 24, 1992 PCT Filed Jan. 15, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/11426 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 8, 1991.Saturated, branched C20-28 fatty acids or esters thereof esterified with C1-36 alkanols produced by the process comprising: (a) reacting unsaturated fatty acids containing 18 to 22 carbon atoms and more than one olefinic bond or esters thereof esterified with C1-36 alkanols with ethylene at a temperature of from about 50 DEG C. to about 140 DEG C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 60 bar in the presence of transition metal compounds selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, or Pt wherein the molar ratio of ethylene to fatty acid or fatty acid ester is from about 1:1 to about 3:1 to form an olefinically unsaturated adduct and, (2) hydrogenating said adduct in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of from about 70 DEG C. to about 120 DEG C. and under a hydrogen pressure of from 10 to about 30 bar. The invention also relates to the process for producing the saturated acids or esters, and to a process for depressing the pour point of a lubricant and to the lubricant so produced.