Lubricating and waxy esters, I. Synthesis, crystallization, and melt behavior of linear monoesters

Four pure jojoba wax-like esters (JLEs), having carbon chain length of 36, 40 (two isomers) and 44, were prepared by Steglish esterification of fatty acids (or acid chlorides) with fatty alcohols at room temperature. Calorimetric and diffraction data was used to elucidate the phase behavior of the esters. The primary thermal parameters (crystallization and melting temperatures) obtained from the DSC of the symmetrical molecules correspond well with the carbon numbers of the JLEs. However, the data also suggests that carbon number is not the only factor since the symmetry of the molecule also plays a significant role in the phase behavior. Overall, the JLEs show very little polymorphic activity at the experimental conditions used, suggesting that they are likely to transform the same way during melting as well as crystallization, a characteristic which may be useful in designing new waxes and lubricants. The XRD data clearly show that the solid phase in all samples consists of a mixture of a β-phase and a β′-phase; fully distinguishable by their characteristic diffraction peaks. Subtle differences between the subcell patterns and phase development of the samples were observed. Different layering of the samples was also observed, understandably because of the chain length differences between the compounds. The long spacings were perfectly linearly proportional to the number of carbon atoms. The length of the ester layers with n carbon atoms can be calculated by a formula similar to that used for the layers in linear alkane molecules.

► Linear monoesters between C36 and C44 are functional lubricants and waxes.
► Crystallization, melt, polymorphism, solid fat content scale with carbon number.
► Symmetry important for asymmetric monoesters, affect induction time, solid content.
► Monoesters crystallized as mixed β′ and β polymorphs.
► Properties of C36 to C44 monoesters predictable from carbon number and symmetry.