Synthesis of wax esters for use as possible sperm oil replacements

Abstract

In efforts to prepare wax esters chemically similar to those comprising sperm oil, selected fats or blends thereof were reduced to alcohols which then were reacted with the initial triglycerides to get such wax esters. For instance, lard oil was reduced to lard oil alcohol in the presence of sodium and methyl isobutyl carbinol in xylene. Most of the resulting sodium alcoholates (95–98%) were decomposed with urea, and subsequent addition of lard oil (triglycerides) resulted in rapid formation of the desired wax esters in ca. 80–90% yields. In preliminary studies, the same wax esters were prepared by a more circuitous route. The alcoholates were decomposed completely with urea, the fatty alcohols were liberated, and they then were esterified with free lard oil acids. Similarly treated were a blend of lard, coconut and crambe oils, fractionated tallow, and a commercial grade oleic acid.