Doubly branched compounds and methods of making them.

摘要

A description is given of a new family of chemical compounds, resulting from fats, having on the linear chain two branchings containing two carbon atoms and corresponding to the general formula C21H39COOR in which R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl radical or a glyceryl radical. Consideration is more particularly given, among these compounds, to those which correspond to the formulae: (C2H5)2C17H29COOR (I) (C2H5)(C2H4)C17H30COOR (II) and (C2H5)(C2H3)C17H31COOR (III) and to those which derive from the above by partial or complete hydrogenation and which correspond to the formulae: (C2H5)2C17H31COOR (IV) (C2H5)(C2H4)C17H32COOR (V) and (C2H5)2C17H33COOR (VI). The compounds of formulae (I), (II) and (III) can be obtained by addition of ethylene to compounds mainly comprising doubly-unsaturated C18 fatty acids or lower alkyl or glyceryl esters of these acids, in particular oils of plant origin, in the presence of a catalytic system containing anionic rhodium of type [RhX4]<->YR'4 where X is an anion, preferably a halide anion, Y is a nitrogen atom N<+> or a phosphorus atom P<+> and R' is preferably a hydrocarbon group. The compounds of the invention can be used especially in compositions based on lubricating agents (lubricants) or emulsifying agents.