ARS | Publication request: 5-HYDROXY FATTY ACID AMIDES FROM DELTA-LACTONES AND ALKYL GLUCOSAMINES

Submitted to: Journal of Surfactants and Detergents
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 16, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We previously discovered that vegetable oils could be converted to a new chemical called delta lactones or DL for short. According to chemical theory, DL's could be made into biodegradable detergents, lubricants, and other products that couldn't be made from vegetable oils previously, but the best way to make each of these products had to be proven out by research. Now we have found a way to convert DL's to a new biodegradable detergent by a simple process that requires no solvents or harsh chemicals. This introduces a whole new class of biodegradable detergents to the world and they are made completely from ag products. We will work with the detergent's industry to commercialize these new detergents. If they take hold they could use large amounts of ag products and open whole new markets for farm products.

Technical Abstract: Delta-lactones derived from unsaturated fatty acids are useful precursors to fatty amides due to their enhanced reactivity. Consequently, amidation reactions of temperature sensitive molecules, like glucamines, were easily converted to their 5-hydroxy fatty acid amides in high yield (52-97%) by reaction with C18 and C20 delta- lactones. High yields were obtained in little or no solvent at 90 deg C in less than 24 hr. 5-hydroxy fatty acid amides of aminosugars or more properly 1-(N-alkyl-5-hydroxy fatty acid amido)-D-glucitols are expected to have useful properties as biodegradable components in detergents.