In the next step as shown in FIG. 18, the yellow oil prepared above, 3,4,5-tris((11,13-tetradecadienyl)oxy)benzoate, was dissolved in a solution of ethanol (400 mL), H2O (80 mL), and NaOH (3.21 g, 80.2 mmol) in a round-bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a magnetic stir bar. The mixture was then stirred and refluxed at 80° C. for 12 hours. After this period, the solution was cooled to 0° C. using an ice bath and acidified to pH 5.0 with hydrochloric acid (42 mL, 3M) to afford a pale brown precipitate. The precipitate was then filtered, washed with hexane (2×100 mL), and dried overnight under vacuum to collect a white solid.
