The present invention is a process for preparing a hydroxyalkyl sorbate comprising the steps of of: a) contacting together in a reaction vessel a solvent, sorbic acid, a transition metal halide catalyst, an anti-oxidant, and an alkylene oxide under conditions sufficient to form the hydroxyalkyl sorbate; b) removing the solvent in vacuo, wherein the anti-oxidant is characterized by the following formula or a carboxylic acid salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein Y, x, and R.sup.1 are defined herein. The process of the present invention provides a convenient way of preparing hydroxyalkyl sorbates in high yield and purity without complicated workup steps.

The present invention is a process for preparing a hydroxyalkyl sorbate comprising the steps of of: a) contacting together in a reaction vessel a solvent, sorbic acid, a transition metal halide catalyst, an anti-oxidant, and an alkylene oxide under conditions sufficient to form the hydroxyalkyl sorbate; b) removing the solvent in vacuo, wherein the anti-oxidant is characterized by the following formula or a carboxylic acid salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein Y, x, and R.sup.1 are defined herein. The process of the present invention provides a convenient way of preparing hydroxyalkyl sorbates in high yield and purity without complicated workup steps.

The present invention is a process for preparing a hydroxyalkyl sorbate comprising the steps of of: a) contacting together in a reaction vessel a solvent, sorbic acid, a transition metal halide catalyst, an anti-oxidant, and an alkylene oxide under conditions sufficient to form the hydroxyalkyl sorbate; b) removing the solvent in vacuo, wherein the anti-oxidant is characterized by the following formula or a carboxylic acid salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein Y, x, and R.sup.1 are defined herein. The process of the present invention provides a convenient way of preparing hydroxyalkyl sorbates in high yield and purity without complicated workup steps.

In a process for producing a tetrabromophthalic diester composition, a liquid reaction mixture is prepared comprising tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA), a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (PAA) and an alkylene oxide (AO) selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, said reaction mixture being substantially free of an organic solvent. While agitating the reaction mixture, the temperature of the reaction mixture is raised to at least 50° C. to allow the TBPA to react with the PAA and AO to produce a diester composition. The reaction is terminated when the diester composition has an acid value equal to or less than 0.25 mg KOH/gm of the diester composition.

In a process for producing a tetrabromophthalic diester composition, a liquid reaction mixture is prepared comprising tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA), a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (PAA) and an alkylene oxide (AO) selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, said reaction mixture being substantially free of an organic solvent. While agitating the reaction mixture, the temperature of the reaction mixture is raised to at least 50° C. to allow the TBPA to react with the PAA and AO to produce a diester composition. The reaction is terminated when the diester composition has an acid value equal to or less than 0.25 mg KOH/gm of the diester composition.

In a process for producing a tetrabromophthalic diester composition, a liquid reaction mixture is prepared comprising tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA), a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (PAA) and an alkylene oxide (AO) selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, said reaction mixture being substantially free of an organic solvent. While agitating the reaction mixture, the temperature of the reaction mixture is raised to at least 50° C. to allow the TBPA to react with the PAA and AO to produce a diester composition. The reaction is terminated when the diester composition has an acid value equal to or less than 0.25 mg KOH/gm of the diester composition.

Esteramine compositions and their derivatives are disclosed. The esteramines comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a tertiary alkanolamine. Derivatives made by quaternizing, sulfonating, alkoxylating, sulfating, and/or sulfitating the esteramines are also disclosed. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The esteramines and derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.

Esteramine compositions and their derivatives are disclosed. The esteramines comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a tertiary alkanolamine. Derivatives made by quaternizing, sulfonating, alkoxylating, sulfating, and/or sulfitating the esteramines are also disclosed. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The esteramines and derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.

Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amines, wherein the fatty amine is made by reducing the amide reaction product of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and a secondary amine, are disclosed. Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amidoamines, wherein the amidoamine is made by reacting of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, are also disclosed. The quaternized compositions are advantageously sulfonated or sulfitated. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The quaternary ammonium, betaine, and sulfobetaine compositions and their sulfonated or sulfitated derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.

Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amines, wherein the fatty amine is made by reducing the amide reaction product of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and a secondary amine, are disclosed. Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amidoamines, wherein the amidoamine is made by reacting of a metathesis-derived C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, are also disclosed. The quaternized compositions are advantageously sulfonated or sulfitated. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C.sub.10-C.sub.17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The quaternary ammonium, betaine, and sulfobetaine compositions and their sulfonated or sulfitated derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.