Enzymatic esterification

• US 6,479,618 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Cognis Holding GmbH (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Vonderhagen, Anja
• Primary Examiner(s): Acquah, Samuel A.
• Application Number:
  US09/857,633
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 528/274, 528/301, 528/302, 528/306, 528/308, 528/308.6, 524/765, 435/183, 424/94.6
• US Class Current: 528/274
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/62 Carboxylic acid esters

Abstract

Processes for preparing linear polyesters by reacting a dicarboxylic acid having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a polyol having from 2 to 15 carbon atoms, a low-boiling primary alcohol and a catalytic-effective amount of a lipase, wherein the reaction mixture is free of additional solvents; are described. The use of such linear polyesters in cosmetics is also described.

Claims

1. A process for preparing linear polyesters, said process comprising:

(a) providing a reaction mixture comprising a dicarboxylic acid having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a polyol having from 2 to 15 carbon atoms, a low-boiling primary alcohol and a catalytic-effective amount of a lipase, wherein the reaction mixture is free of additional solvents; and

(b) reacting the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a hydroxydicarboxylic acid having two or more primary hydroxyl groups.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises tartaric acid.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a mixture of two or more dicarboxylic acids.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a hydroxydicarboxylic acid having two or more primary hydroxyl groups.

6. The process according to claim 4, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises tartaric acid.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the polyol comprises a component selected from the group consisting of glycerol, alkylene glycols, technical oligoglycerol mixtures, methylol compounds, lower alkyl glucosides, sugar alcohols, sugars, amino sugars, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a hydroxydicarboxylic acid having two or more primary hydroxyl groups.

9. The process according to claim 7, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises tartaric acid.

10. The process according to claim 7, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a mixture of two or more dicarboxylic acids.

11. The process according to claim 10, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises a hydroxydicarboxylic acid having two or more primary hydroxyl groups.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the lipase comprises a component selected from the group consisting of Candida antartica B and Rhizomucor miehei.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol are reacted in a molar ratio of from 2:

1 to 0.5;

1.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol are reacted in a molar ratio of from 1.2:

1 to 0.8;

1.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the low-boiling primary alcohol is present in a molar amount of from 0.1 to 5, based on the molar amount of the dicarboxylic acid.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction of the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol is carried out at a pressure of from 0.01 to 500 mbar.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction of the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol is carried out at a pressure of from 10 to 250 mbar.

18. A process for preparing linear polyesters, said process comprising:

(a) providing a reaction mixture comprising;

a dicarboxylic acid component comprising a mixture of a hydroxydicarboxylic acid having two or more primary hydroxyl groups and an additional dicarboxylic acid;

a polyol component selected from the group consisting of glycerol, alkylene glycols, technical oligoglycerol mixtures, methylol compounds, lower alkyl glucosides, sugar alcohols, sugars, amino sugars, and mixtures thereof, a low-boiling primary alcohol; and

a catalytic-effective amount of a lipase selected from the group consisting of Candida antartica B and Rhizomucor miehei, wherein the reaction mixture is free of additional solvents; and

(b) reacting the dicarboxylic acid and the polyol in a molar ratio of from 1.2;

1 to 0.8;

1, and at a pressure of from 10 to 250 mbar.