.\Production of Branched-Chain Fatty Acids from Sterculia Oil1

Methyl sterculate was rearranged by use of 0.5% of rhodium catalyst to isomeric conjugated diene fatty acid methyl esters containing both methyleneand methyl-branched isomers. The rearranged products were hydrogenated directly to saturated, methyl-substituted, branched-chain fatty acid methyl esters with the methyl substituent at one of the positions formerly occupied by the cyclopropenoid ring. The crude branched-chain fatty acids from these esters were purified by recrystallization from a mixed solvent of ethanol and water (80: 20, v/v) and flash distillation; the product contained about 90% of branched-chain fatty acids (C19 :80%, C18 :10%). Esters of the branched-chain fatty acid were prepared with 2-ethylhexyl alcohol or trimethylolpropane, and the characteristic properties of these esters were investigated. The branchedchain fatty esters appear to have potential utility in lubricants; other uses may be possible.