Chemical reactions of fatty acids with special reference to the carboxyl group

Unsaturated fatty acids contain unsaturated centres and the carboxyl group both of which can be modified to give a range of interesting and useful compounds. The former have been discussed in detail in two recent references [8, 9] and therefore this paper will be concerned with the reactions of the carboxyl group and its derivatives. Attention is directed to the lactones, alcohols and their ethoxylates and sulfates, to the preparation of cleavable surfactants (acetals, ketals, ortho esters and ester quats), Guerbet alcohols and acids, alkyl polyglycosides and to amines and other nitrogencontaining compounds.