We describe here the first example in which glycerol has been transformed into chlorohydrin esters using an ionic liquid and hydrated aluminium chloride. The method avoids using Crown-18 ether, which was needed to obtain a similar yield when KCl was used. Alkyl and aryl acids can be used, although yields are very dependent on the carboxylic acid used.
Process of stripping a liquid medium containing at least one oligomer of glycerol, wherein a stripping agent comprising hydrogen chloride is used at a temperature higher than 120 °C.
Esterification-chlorination of glycerol provides chlorohydrin esters in high yields. A ratio of reagents close to equivalence can be used, so that atom economy of the reaction is optimized. The reaction can be carried out using either classical or microwave heating, and no solvent is required. 2-Chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl esters can be obtained in high regioisomeric relationship when either low or moderate temperature is used. In contrast, microwave irradiation allows the use of higher reaction temperatures that render mixtures of both regioisomers in variable relationships. Kinetic control of the process is proposed for classical heating, and experimental results are analyzed with the aid of ab initio calculated values. Non-thermal phenomena can be used to explain the high efficiency of microwave irradiation at low temperature. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Synthesis of Allyl Esters of Fatty Acids and Their Ovicidal Effect on Cydia pomonella (L.)
Eight allyl esters of fatty acids were synthesized in moderate to high yields with a novel two-step procedure using glycerol as a starting material. The two-step methodology avoids the use of allyl alcohol. The first step consisted of heating at 80 degrees C for 48 h a 2:1:5 mmol mixture of glycerol, a fatty acid, and chlorotrimethylsilane in a solvent-free medium. The crude compound was then dissolved in butanone and heated at 115 degrees C in the presence of Nal. A tandem Finkelstein rearrangement-elimination reaction occurs, producing the corresponding allyl ester. The activity of these esters against Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) eggs was tested in the laboratory by topical application of one 0.1 mu L drop. All of the compounds showed a concentration-mortality response and caused 100% mortality at the highest concentration tested (10 mg/mL). There was an inverse relationship between the alkyl chain length and the ovicidal activity of the allyl ester; the LC50 and the LC90 of the two compounds that have the longer alkyl chains were significantly higher than those of the rest of the compounds. The ovicidal and IGR activities of this kind of compound appear to be unprecedented.