Compounds comprising one or more functionalized fatty acid esters, which may be derived from bio-based oils, are used as a low-VOC coalescent agent (i.e., a coalescent agent having a low content of volatile organic compounds) in waterborne coating compositions. The functional group can be epoxide, vicinal diol, hydroxy phosphotriester, hydroxy ester, hydroxyl alkyl ester, hydroxyl benzyl ester, hydroxy ether, hydroxy amino, hydroxy sulfide, hydroxy nitrile, hydroxy amine, terminal alcohol, thiiran, ketone, or cyclic carbonate. The present disclosure also relates to waterborne coating compositions comprising these functionalized fatty acid esters.

Compounds comprising one or more functionalized fatty acid esters, which may be derived from bio-based oils, are used as a low-VOC coalescent agent (i.e., a coalescent agent having a low content of volatile organic compounds) in waterborne coating compositions. The functional group can be epoxide, vicinal diol, hydroxy phosphotriester, hydroxy ester, hydroxyl alkyl ester, hydroxyl benzyl ester, hydroxy ether, hydroxy amino, hydroxy sulfide, hydroxy nitrile, hydroxy amine, terminal alcohol, thiiran, ketone, or cyclic carbonate. The present disclosure also relates to waterborne coating compositions comprising these functionalized fatty acid esters.

Provided is a plasticizer composition, comprising: a cyclohexane-1,4-diester-based substance of the following Chemical Formula 1; an epoxidized alkyl ester composition comprising one or more compounds of the following Chemical Formula 2; and a citrate-based substance of the following Chemical Formula 3:

##STR00001## wherein in Chemical Formula 1 to Chemical Formula 3: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently are a C8 alkyl group; R.sub.3 is a C8 to C20 alkyl group comprising one or more epoxy groups; and R.sub.4 to R.sub.7 each independently are a C4 to C10 alkyl group.

Provided is a plasticizer composition, comprising: a cyclohexane-1,4-diester-based substance of the following Chemical Formula 1; an epoxidized alkyl ester composition comprising one or more compounds of the following Chemical Formula 2; and a citrate-based substance of the following Chemical Formula 3:

##STR00001## wherein in Chemical Formula 1 to Chemical Formula 3: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently are a C8 alkyl group; R.sub.3 is a C8 to C20 alkyl group comprising one or more epoxy groups; and R.sub.4 to R.sub.7 each independently are a C4 to C10 alkyl group.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid esters, comprising in the order given a transesterification of an epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a reduction of the volatile saturated non-epoxidized fraction by short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a selection on the one hand of the non-vaporized fraction (residue) of the previous process step as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and a selection on the other hand of the vaporized fraction (distillate) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters. The first mixture is in particular suitable as plasticizer in halogenated polymers, the second mixture being particularly suitable as plasticizer in non-halogenated polymers.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing two mixtures of epoxidized fatty acid esters, comprising in the order given a transesterification of an epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a reduction of the volatile saturated non-epoxidized fraction by short path distillation of the transesterified epoxidized vegetable oil, followed by a selection on the one hand of the non-vaporized fraction (residue) of the previous process step as the first mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters and a selection on the other hand of the vaporized fraction (distillate) as the second mixture of epoxidized fatty acid esters. The first mixture is in particular suitable as plasticizer in halogenated polymers, the second mixture being particularly suitable as plasticizer in non-halogenated polymers.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel compound which is useful as a plasticizer that has improved heat resistance and cold resistance, while having good inherent plasticization performance as a plasticizer, or which is useful as a stabilizer for chlorine-containing resins. The inventors have found that a novel epoxycyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diester having a specific structure, which has an epoxy group in the molecular structure and has improved cold resistance and heat resistance, enables the achievement of the above-described purpose, and have been able to achieve a novel compound that is useful as a plasticizer and as a stabilizer.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel compound which is useful as a plasticizer that has improved heat resistance and cold resistance, while having good inherent plasticization performance as a plasticizer, or which is useful as a stabilizer for chlorine-containing resins. The inventors have found that a novel epoxycyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diester having a specific structure, which has an epoxy group in the molecular structure and has improved cold resistance and heat resistance, enables the achievement of the above-described purpose, and have been able to achieve a novel compound that is useful as a plasticizer and as a stabilizer.

The present invention relates to methods of activate an isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) for the treatment of neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease and stroke using cyclopropanated or epoxidized derivatives of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods of reducing neurodegeneration using cyclopropanated or epoxidized derivatives of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The present invention relates to methods of activate an isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) for the treatment of neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease and stroke using cyclopropanated or epoxidized derivatives of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods of reducing neurodegeneration using cyclopropanated or epoxidized derivatives of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.