| abstract |
Mixtures of non-cyclic xylitol mono- and diesters with C6 to C30 fatty acids are made by reacting, in dimethyl formamide or dimethyl sulphoxide, one mole of an ester of a C1 to C8 monohydric alcohol and a C6 to C30 fatty acid with 3 molecular amounts of xylitol in the presence of an alkaline transesterification catalyst, at 90 DEG to 100 DEG C. under a nitrogen atmosphere pressure of 250 to 300 mm. Hg for 12 to 24 hours, treating the reaction mass with hexane, filtering off unreacted xylitol, distilling of the solvent and recrystallizing the residue from ethyl acetate or dichloroethane. Potassium carbonate is the preferred catalyst. The examples describe the use, as reactants, of methyl palmitate, oleate, and laurate. |