Alpha Olefins answers.

Q: I recently learned about a commercially available product called alkenyl succinic anhydrides (ASA's). I understand that normal alpha olefins are feedstocks used to prepare ASA's, and I wondered if you could tell me about derivatives I might make from ASA's?

A: Absolutely! Some ASA's are made by heating an alpha olefin with maleic anhydride, For other ASA's, the alpha olefin is first isomerized to a mixture of linear internal olefins, which is then combined with maleic anhydride to make a mixture of ASA's having a lower pour point than an ASA made directly from an alpha olefin.

For any ASA, a number of additional chemistries are possible. Reaction with alcohols is a common next step, giving either diesters or half-esters/halfeacids. Because they have highly branched structures, the diesters make good pour point depressants.

Amines will also react with ASA's giving an amide/acid type product.

Similarly, water will open the anhydride to a diacid, which can be used in polyesters or neutralized with base to give a disalt.

To learn about other exciting possibilities with alpha olefins, please give us a call.

www.cpchem.com/alphaolefins Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP TOLL-FREE 803.231.3260 E-mail: [e-mail]

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