Reactions of fatty acid chlorides. I. Preparation of fatty acid anhydrides

Summary The anhydrides of decanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids have been prepared in better than 90% yields through the corresponding acid chlorides with acetic anhydride. Oleic anhydride could only be prepared satisfactorily when oleoyl chloride was prepared, in turn, with oxalyl chloride. A comparison has been made of the various synthetic methods.