A versatile process for the syntheses of very long chain alkanes, functionalised derivatives and some branched chain hydrocarbons

An earlier method for synthesising very long straight-chain alkanes of very specific lengths has been improved to give, in some cases, gram amounts of materials. Eleven compounds have been made: C98H198, C122H246, C162H326, C194H390, C198H398, C210H422, C242H486, C246H494, C258H518, C294H590 and C390H782. The self-condensation reaction of one of the intermediate aldehydes enabled two chain-branched hydrocarbons to be obtained: C96H193CHRC94H189 where R = CH3 and CH3(CH2)3. Three long-chain compounds containing carboxylic acid groups have been prepared: CH3(CH2)190CO2H,HO2C(CH2)48CO2H and HO2C(CH2)192CO2H.