Omega-Functionalized Fatty Acids, Alcohols, and Ethers via Olefin Metathesis

Methyl 17-hydroxy stearate was converted to methyl octadec-16-enoate using copper sulfate adsorbed on silica gel. This compound served as a useful substrate for the olefin metathesis reaction. As a result, several fatty acids with novel functional groups at the ω-end were prepared: a glyceryl ether attached at the 18-carbon, an aromatic fatty acid from eugenol, and a ferrocenyl fatty acid. By employing the unsaturated fatty alcohol, other groups were introduced, namely the terminal fluoride, bromide, and iodide were prepared, as was a thiol derivative. The penultimate and omega olefins reported here should serve as building blocks that allow fatty acids to make a greater contribution to a range of emerging technological areas.