A library
of 13 esters and methylated esters, including entirely
new molecules, derived from renewable natural tartaric acid, have
been synthesized, characterized, and used as plasticizers of polylactide
(PLA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of the blends
consisting of PLA and tartaric acid derivatives reveal that all esters
obtained exhibit plasticizing properties; however, their miscibility
with PLA and ability to modify the thermal transition is dependent
significantly on the structure of the ester group. It was found that
esters bearing short alkyl groups (methyl, ethyl, n-butyl) may act as primary plasticizers that allow blends of elastomeric
properties to exist at ambient temperature. The hydrolytic and enzymatic
stability of plasticizers has been studied using dimethyl and diethyl
tartrate, and both materials can be classified as biodegradable.
Optically pure calcium (R)-pantothenate has been obtained from the racemic compound via direct fractional crystallization of the single enantiomer. Efficient racemization of the biologically inactive calcium (S)-pantothenate without its decomposition to pantolactone has been developed, resulting in a simple, complete, and efficient technology. The results elaborated in the laboratory have been then successfully applied in the industrial scale process.
Efficient, direct, one-pot hydrolysis of O,O′-dibenzoyltartaric anhydride produced via benzoylation of tartaric acid was achieved, whereby a complete and efficient method of manufacturing O,O′-dibenzoyltartaric acid was developed. The process was successfully optimized by using factorial and rotatable designs. The yield was increased from 81 to 95%. The results obtained in the laboratory were then successfully implemented in the pilot-plant-scale process.
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