411.5 g (1.358 mols) stearic acid chloride are dissolved in 3 l toluene and heated to 90° C. 41.23 g (0.22 mols) of sorbitol, dissolved in 200 ml pyridine are added dropwise to this mixture over 25 minutes. The solution is boiled (at approx. 110° C.) for 1 hour under reflux. After cooling, dilute hydrochloric acid is added to acidify the mixture, which is then washed with water until neutral and dried with dehydrated sodium sulphate. After concentration of the organic phase the sorbitol stearate crystallizes. It is recrystallized from methanol.
