Claims
- 1. A process for preparing an omega-hydroxy fatty acid of the formula
- ROCH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH (1)
- wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl group, and n represents an integer of 0 to 18,
- which comprises catalytically reacting an omega-hydroxy (or acyloxy)-alkyl-.gamma.-butyrolactone of the formula ##STR9## wherein R and n are as defined above, in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst selected from the group consisting of palladium and platinum, and a promotor selected from the group consisting of cation exchange resins, zeolites, phosphoric acid polyphosphoric acid and p-toluene sulfonic acid at a temperature of about 50.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and under atmospheric pressure to about 150 kg/cm.sup.2.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the acyl group represented by R in formula (2) is an acyl group derived from a carboxylic acid having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (2) is an omega-hydroxy-alkyl-.gamma.-butyrolactone obtained by reacting a diol of the formula
- HOCH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 OH (3)
- wherein n is the same as defined with respect to formula (2),
- with acrylic acid or its alkyl ester of the formula
- CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCOOR' (4)
- wherein R' represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group,
- in the presence of a radical catalyst.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (2) is an omega-acyloxy-alkyl-.gamma.-butyrolactone obtained by acylating the omega-hydroxy-alkyl-.gamma.-butyrolactone obtained by the process of claim 5.
- 5. The process of claim 5 wherein the alkyl group represented by R' in formula (4) is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the radical catalyst is an organic peroxide catalyst.
- 7. The process of claim 5 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 200.degree. C. under atmospheric pressure to about 20 kg/cm.sup.2.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
52-47346 |
Apr 1977 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 897,641 filed Apr. 18, 1978, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
47-43546 |
Nov 1972 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Suzuki et al., Chem. vol, 76, 3676e, 1972. |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
897641 |
Apr 1978 |
|