Analysis of Ethylene Oxide Adducts of Cardanol and 3‐Pentadecylphenol by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Thin‐Layer Chromatography Procedures

Cardanol, a meta‐substituted n‐long chain (C15) unsaturated alkylphenol derived from cashewnut shell liquid and 3‐pentadecylphenol (hydrogenated cardanol) were oxyethylated to various degrees with ethylene oxide under base‐catalysed conditions. NMR was used for a rapid determination of the average number of ethoxy groups in the adducts. Homologous adducts of some lower ethoxylates of 3‐pentadecylphenol were separated by silica gel thin‐layer chromatography and their homogeneity was determined by NMR. The data obtained on 1.2 and 1.7 mole adducts using thin‐layer chromatography and NMR showed that the base‐catalysed oxyethylation of these alkylphenols proceeded by the formation of the alkylphenoxy ethanol.