Alpha-hydroxy acids and estolides and their derivatives

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ESTER OF AN UNSATURATED ESTOLIDE FROM A CARBOXYLIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF WATER-INSOLUBLE ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS, WATER-INSOLUBLE ESTOLIDES OF SAID ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS AND MIXTURES THEREOF, SAID ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS CONTAINING 6 TO 30 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND BEING STRAIGHT-CHAIN UNSUBSTITUTED ALIPHATIC ALPHA-HYDROXY MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING SAID CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH A SATURATED UNSUBSTITUTED ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL IN THE RATIO OF 0.5 TO 2 MOLES OF ACID PER MOLE OF HYDROXYL GROUP IN THE ALCHOL IN THE PRESENCE OF BETWEEN 0.05 AND 20 MOLES OF AN ACIDIC NON-GELATION AGENT PER MOLE OF ACID AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 100* C. AND 200* C. FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT ESTERIFICATION AND DEHYDROXYLATION AND REMOVING WATER FORMED DURING THE HEATING, SAID ACIDIC NON-GELATION AGENT BEING AN ORGANIC ACID CONTAINING A CONJUGATED DIENE GROUPING.