Triesters from alpha-and-beta-hydroxyesters

1. A method of making a benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester comprising the steps:

a. forming a reaction mixture by reacting the following three components:

i. a synthetic or biobased reagent selected from the group consisting of an alpha-hydroxyester and a beta-hydroxyester,

ii. an anhydride selected from the group consisting of cis-hexahydrophthalic anhydride, 4-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and 3-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and

iii. an alkylamine catalyst; and

b. contacting benzyl chloride with the reaction mixture to yield a product that is free of phthalates and includes at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate trimester;

wherein the benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester has the structure:

wherein R 1 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , bridging O, bridging CH 2 , and bridging CH 2 —CH 2 , with each bridging unit defining coincident R 1 and R 4 groups;

wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C-C30 linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups;

wherein R 5 is selected from the group consisting of benzyl and substituted benzyl groups;

wherein R 6 is a C1-Cl2 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group;

wherein Z is O or S;

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , CH(R 7 ), C(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 —CH 2 , CH(R 7 )—CH 2 , and CH 2 —C(═CH 2 ); and

wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H and a C1-C12 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic or biobased reagent is a hydroxyester selected from the group consisting of alpha-hydroxyesters, lactate esters, mandelic acid esters, and glycolate esters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic or biobased reagent is a C4-C12 alpha-hydroxyester.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic or biobased reagent is a glycolate ester selected from the group consisting of butyl glycolate, ethyl glycolate, methyl glycolate and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic or biobased reagent is a beta-hydroxyester selected from hydroxypropionate esters and C4-C12 beta-hydroxyesters.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkylamine catalyst is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-pyridines, alkyl-pyramidines, alkyl-piperidines, trimethyl amine, triethyl amine, N-methylpiperidine and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester is selected from the group consisting of (methyl 2-carboxyethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (ethyl 2-carboxyethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (propyl 2-carboxyethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (butyl 2-carboxyethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (2-ethylhexyl 2-carboxyethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester is selected from the group consisting of (methyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (ethyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (propyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (butyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (2-ethylhexyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester is selected from the group consisting of (methyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (ethyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (propyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (butyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester, (2-ethylhexyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester and combinations thereof.

10. A plastisol including a thermoplastic polymer and the benzyl cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester made by the method of claim 1 .

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the synthetic or biobased reagent is (butyl 1-methyl-2-carboxyethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate.

12. The plastisol of claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is halogenated.

13. The halogenated plastisol of claim 11 , wherein the halogenated thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl halide resin, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride polymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl ester copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl ether copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinylidene copolymers, vinyl chloride-propylene copolymers, chlorinated polyethylene, polyvinyl bromide, polyvinyl fluoride, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof.

14. A method of plasticizing a plastic composition comprising the step:

combining the following two components:

a. a benzyl cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester made by the method of claim 1 , and

b. a plastic composition.

15. A method of making a benzyl 2-[(alkoxycarbonylmethylthio)carbonyl] cyclohexanecarboxylate comprising the steps:

a. forming a reaction mixture by reacting the following three components:

i. a thioglycolic acid ester,

ii. a cis-hexahydrophthalic anhydride, and

iii. an alkylamine catalyst; and

b. adding benzyl chloride to the reaction mixture to form at least one benzyl 2-[(alkoxycarbonylmethylthio)carbonyl] cyclohexanecarboxylate;

wherein the benzyl 2-[(alkoxycarbonylmethylthio)carbonyl] cyclohexanecarboxylate has the structure:

wherein R 1 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , bridging O, bridging CH 2 , and bridging CH 2 —CH 2 , with each bridging unit defining coincident R 1 and R 4 groups;

wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C-C30 linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups;

wherein R 5 is selected from the group consisting of benzyl and substituted benzyl groups;

wherein R 6 is a C1-Cl2 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group;

wherein Z is S;

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , CH(R 7 ), C(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 —CH 2 , CH(R 7 )—CH 2 , and CH 2 —C(═CH 2 ); and

wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H and a C1-C12 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group.

16. A composition comprising:

a benzyl cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester having the structure:

wherein R 1 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , bridging O, bridging CH 2 , and bridging CH 2 —CH 2 , with each bridging unit defining coincident R 1 and R 4 groups;

wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , and C1-C30 linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups;

wherein R 5 is selected from the group consisting of benzyl and substituted benzyl groups;

wherein R 6 is a C1-C12 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group;

wherein Z is O or S;

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of CH 2 , CH(R 7 ), C(CH 3 ) 2 , CH 2 —CH 2 , CH(R 7 )—CH 2 , and CH 2 —C(═CH 2 ); and

wherein R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H and a C1-C12 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group.

17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the benzyl cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester is selected from the group consisting of (butyl carboxymethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester; (ethyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester; (butyl lactyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester; and (butyl 1-methyl-2-carboxyethyl) benzyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate triester.