A versatile process for the syntheses of very long chain alkanes, functionalised derivatives and some branched chain hydrocarbons

Abstract

An earlier method for synthesising very long straight-chain alkanes of very specific lengths has been improved to give, in some cases, gram amounts of materials. Eleven compounds have been made: C₉₈H₁₉₈, C₁₂₂H₂₄₆, C₁₆₂H₃₂₆, C₁₉₄H₃₉₀, C₁₉₈H₃₉₈, C₂₁₀H₄₂₂, C₂₄₂H₄₈₆, C₂₄₆H₄₉₄, C₂₅₈H₅₁₈, C₂₉₄H₅₉₀ and C₃₉₀H₇₈₂. The self-condensation reaction of one of the intermediate aldehydes enabled two chain-branched hydrocarbons to be obtained: C₉₆H₁₉₃CHRC₉₄H₁₈₉ where R = CH₃ and CH₃(CH₂)₃. Three long-chain compounds containing carboxylic acid groups have been prepared: CH₃(CH₂)₁₉₀CO₂H,HO₂C(CH₂)₄₈CO₂H and HO₂C(CH₂)₁₉₂CO₂H.