Water → Stearyl Stearate

Participants

Reaction Steps

71.1 grams (0.25 mole) of purified stearic acid (melting point 70° C.) and 101.5 grams (0.375 mole) of 1-octadecanol were added to 5.5 grams of toluenesulfonic acid in 100 ml of m-xylene and charged into a Dean-Stark equipped 1-liter round bottom flask. After 4 hours of reflux under nitrogen at a pot temperature of 180° C., 6 ml of water was collected. The solvent and any excess alcohol were stripped under 29 inches of mercury vacuum at 130° C. to give 151 grams of a solid having a melting point of 58° C. The acid number of the product was 3.0. Infrared spectroscopic analysis showed formation of the ester function.

Provenance & Evidence