Hydrazine‐reduced linolenic acids as a source of C9, C12, and C15 dibasic acids

Abstract

Anticipated reduction in cost of hydrazine, resulting from its increased production as a rocket fuel, suggests the need to reconsider this chemical as an industrial reactant for fats. Hydrazinc reduces the individual double bonds of linolenic acid (9,12,15‐octadecatrienoic acid) nonselectively and without altering the position of residual unsaturation; thus the monoene fraction from hydrazine‐reduced linolenic acid consists of an equimixture of the 9‐, 12‐, and 15‐octadecenoate acids. Equal amounts of the C₉, C₁₂, and C₁₅ dibasic acids are derived from this fatty acid mixture by oxidative cleavage along with the corresponding monobasic acids.Kinetics of reactions, source of raw materials and reactants, and problems of processing and utilization of products are discussed.