Process for preparing esteramide compounds

1. A method for preparing an esteramide compound of the following formula (I):

R 1 OOC-A-CONR 2 R 3   (I)

comprising a step for reaction between:

a diester compound of the following formula (II):

R 1 OOC-A-COOR 1   (II)

and an amine of the following formula (III):

HNR 2 R 3   (III)

in the presence of a basic compound,

wherein:

A is a covalent bond or a linear or branched divalent alkylene group comprising a number of carbon atoms ranging from 1 to 12,

R 1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, comprising from 1 to 36 carbon atoms,

R 2 and R 3 , either identical or different, are optionally substituted alkyl groups, comprising from 1 to 36 carbon atoms, and

R 2 and R 3 not being simultaneously hydrogen atoms,

characterized by the fact that

the amine (III) is solubilized in an organic solvent, or in the diester compound (II),

when the amine (III) is solubilized in an organic solvent, the diester compound (II) is added onto the reaction mixture comprising the amine (III) and the basic compound,

when the amine (III) is solubilized in the diester compound (II), the basic compound is added onto the reaction mixture comprising the amine (III) and the diester compound (II),

the reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than or equal to 30° C.,

the amine (III) is present in molar excess ranging from 0.01 to 50%, based on the diester compound (II).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein A is a branched divalent alkylene group, comprising a number of carbon atoms ranging from 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the groups R 1 , either identical or different, are hydrocarbon groups, comprising from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, which may bear one or several substituents.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the groups R 1 , either identical or different, are selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and arylalkyl groups, said groups bearing possibly one or several substituents.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tertiobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 3-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, 3-methylhexyl, 4-methylhexyl, 1-ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 3-ethylpentyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 3-methylheptyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, undecyl, n-dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl and pentadecyl groups.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the diester compound of formula (II) is a mixture of diester compounds of the following formulae (II.1), (II.2) and (II.3):

R 1 OOC—CH(CH 3 )—CH 2 —CH 2 —COOR 1   (II.1)

R 1 OOC—CH(CH 2 —CH 3 )—CH 2 —COOR 1   (II.2)

R 1 OOC—CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —COOR 1   (II.3).

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the mixture of diester compounds of formulae (II.1), (II.2) and (II.3), has the following composition:

from 75 to 95% by weight of compound of formula (II.1),

from 3 to 23% by weight of compound of formula (II.2),

from 0.1 to 10% by weight of compound of formula (II.3).

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the groups R 1 are methyl groups.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 , either identical or different, are selected from methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tertiobutyl, n-pentyl, and hexyl groups.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amine of formula (III) is solubilized in an organic solvent.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the organic solvent is selected from alcohols and ethers.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the basic compound is an alkaline or earth alkaline metal alkoxide.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the basic compound is introduced at a molar concentration relatively to the diester comprised between 0.01 and 20%.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature comprised between 30° C. and 130° C.