Processes of preparing estolide compounds that include removing sulfonate residues

1. At least one compound of Formula I:

wherein

W 1 , W 2 , W 3 , W 4 , W 5 , W 6 , and W 7 , independently for each occurrence, are selected from —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, and —CHR 5 —;

Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 , independently for each occurrence, are selected from —CH 3 , —CH═CH 2 , —CH(R 5 )CH 3 , and —CH 2 R 5 , provided that at least one of W 1 , W 2 , W 3 , W 4 , W 5 , W 6 , or W 7 is —CHR 5 —, or at least one of Q 1 , Q 2 , or Q 3 is —CH 2 R 5 ;

R 5 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from —OS(O) 2 R 6 , wherein R 6 is selected from —OH, optionally substituted alkyl, and optionally substituted aryl;

z is an integer selected from 0 to 15;

p is an integer selected from 0 to 15;

q is an integer selected from 0 to 15;

x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;

y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;

n is equal to or greater than 0; and

R 2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,

wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said at least one compound is independently optionally substituted.

2. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein

x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 1 to 10;

y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 1 to 10;

n is an integer selected from 0 to 8; and

R 2 is an optionally substituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,

wherein each fatty acid chain residue is unsubstituted.

3. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7 and 8.

4. The at least one compound according to claim 3 , wherein y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7 and 8.

5. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is an unsubstituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched.

6. The at least one compound according to claim 5 , wherein R 2 is selected from C 6 to C 12 alkyl.

7. The at least one compound according to claim 6 , wherein R 2 is saturated.

8. The at least one compound according to claim 6 , wherein R 2 is branched.

9. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 is —CHR 5 —.

10. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 6 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl.

11. The at least one compound according to claim 10 , wherein R 6 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from unsubstituted alkyl.

12. The at least one compound according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound is selected from compounds of Formula III:

13. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein z is an integer selected from 7 and 8.

14. The at least one compound according to claim 13 , wherein q is an integer selected from 7 and 8.

15. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein n is an integer selected from 0 to 12.

16. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein R 6 is —OH.

17. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein q is 0.

18. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein R 6 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl.

19. The at least one compound according to claim 18 , wherein R 6 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from unsubstituted alkyl.

20. The at least one compound according to claim 12 , wherein R 6 , independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted aryl.