Catalytic synthesis and characterization of phenol‐branched‐chain fatty acid isomers*

There is significant research interest in developing new industrial materials from vegetable oils and animal fats. Such biobased materials can be more environmentally friendly because they tend to have good biodegradability and are derived from renewable resources. This paper describes a catalytic approach for the addition of phenol to the olefinic site of oleic acid using the H-ferrierite zeolite. A number of experimental parameters were examined, including different reaction components and their ratios, and reaction conditions. Under optimized conditions, phenol-branched-chain fatty acid isomers were obtained in up to 70% yield. The materials were characterized using various analytical techniques, including GC, GC–MS, and HPLC–MS.