Helen L Ngo

US Patent:

7534917, May 19, 2009

Filed:

Apr 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/786640

Inventors:

Helen Ngo - North Wales PA, US
Thomas A. Foglia - Lafayette Hill PA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture - Washington DC

International Classification:

C07C 57/02
C07C 55/00

US Classification:

562595, 562590

Abstract:

A method of producing dicarboxylic acids (e. g. , α,ω dicarboxylic acids) by reacting a compound having a terminal COOH (e. g. , unsaturated fatty acid such as oleic acid) and containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond with a second generation Grubbs catalyst in the absence of solvent to produce dicarboxylic acids. The method is conducted in an inert atmosphere (e. g. , argon, nitrogen). The process also works well with mixed unsaturated fatty acids obtained from soybean, rapeseed, tall, and linseed oils.

US Patent:

20110263884, Oct 27, 2011

Filed:

Apr 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/767083

Inventors:

Helen Ngo - North Wales PA, US
Thomas A. Foglia - Lafayette Hill PA, US

International Classification:

C07C 51/353

US Classification:

554154

Abstract:

A process for preparing saturated branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof involving subjecting unsaturated fatty acids having 10 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof to a skeletal isomerization reaction in the presence of water or a lower alcohol at a temperature of about 240 C. to about 280 C. using a combination of a stericly hindered Lewis base and zeolite as a Brönsted or Lewis acid catalyst, and isolating saturated branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof from the reaction mixture obtained by the skeletal isomerization reaction. The yield of said saturated branched chain fatty acids is ≧70 wt %. The stericly hindered Lewis base is a tertiary amine or phosphine with linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl or phenyl groups attached thereto.

US Patent:

20110275844, Nov 10, 2011

Filed:

May 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/774347

Inventors:

Helen Ngo - North Wales PA, US
Thomas A. Foglia - Lafeyette Hill PA, US

International Classification:

C07C 67/48

US Classification:

554142

Abstract:

A process for preparing saturated branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof involving subjecting unsaturated fatty acids having 10 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof to a skeletal isomerization reaction in the presence of water or a lower alcohol at a temperature of about 240 C. to about 280 C. using a combination of a stericly hindered Lewis base and zeolite as a Brönsted or Lewis acid catalyst, and isolating saturated branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof from the reaction mixture obtained by the skeletal-isomerization reaction. The yield of said saturated branched chain fatty acids is ≧70 wt %. The stericly hindered Lewis base is a tertiary amine or phosphine with linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl or phenyl groups attached thereto.