Ultrasound-assisted method for the synthesis of tertiary fatty aliphatic esters with potential antimicrobial activity

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate a simple and rapid “green” method for the ultrasound-assisted synthesis of t-aliphatic esters by reacting t-butanol with saturated (capric, lauric, palmitic) and unsaturated (oleic and undecylenic) acids. The spectral characterization of esters was performed by IR and NMR spectroscopies. The impact of ultrasonic irradiation on the reaction in comparison with the conventional method was analyzed based on the reaction time and the yield of the resulting esters. After spectroscopic studies, the synthesis of the corresponding esters after the ultrasound-assisted irradiation was proven. The yields of the t-butyl fatty acid esters increased between 2 and 10% in comparison with the conventional method for their synthesis. It was also established that the application of ultrasonic irradiation intensifies the esterification process significantly compared to the conventional method. The advantages of the ultrasound-assisted esterification include shortening the reaction time; the process is carried out at room temperature instead of at the conventional reaction temperature 67-70oC. The application of ultrasonic-assisted irradiation for esterification is a suitable and promising method to reduce energy consumption, shortening the reaction time, and increasing the yield of t-butyl fatty acid esters.