Preparation of 1-monoacylglycerols from glycidol and fatty acids catalyzedby the chromium(III)-fatty acid system

A description is given for preparing l-monoacylglycerols by the reaction of fatty acids with glycidol catalyzed by Cr(lll)-fatty acid complexes. These complexes were found to possess catalytic efficiency substantially greater than catalysts employed earlier. Effects of catalyst type, its content in the mixture, molar ratio of reactants, and reaction temperature during the course of acid conversion were studied. With a catalyst content of 0.5% by mass of charged reactants and at 90 degrees C a 90-95% conversion of the ac id can be achieved within 60 min. In addition to the corresponding I-monoac ylglycerol, only unreacted starting substances and the catalyst were detect ed in resulting reaction mixtures.