Primary Ziegler synthesis

Linear, even-numbered, primary alcohols—like the natural fatty alcohols—are produced by the aluminum organic alcohol synthesis after Ziegler, the so-called Alfol process. This alcohol synthesis proceeds in three steps ... 

The marked decrease of the serum IgM in patients with Burkitt s lymphoma have been confirmed by Ziegler et al. (Zl) in East Africa, who noticed an impairment of the primary antibody response and low serum IgM levels in untreated patients with Burkitt s lymphoma, but not in patients in remission. They postulated a defect in humoral immunity possibly to impaired IgM synthesis. 

Fundamental work on organoaluminum chemistry by Prof. Karl Ziegler and co-workers at the Max Planck Institute provided the basis for a commercial synthesis of even-carbon-numbered straight chain primary alcohols. These alcohols are identical with products derived from naturally occurring fats. In this process, ethylene is reacted with aluminum triethyl to form a higher aikylaluminum which then is oxidized and hydrolyzed to give the corresponding alcohols. 

It was Ziegler and Colonius who first showed that the primary products in a Wurtz synthesis are organoalkali compounds which, under suitable conditions, do not react further and can be obtained as the main product of the reaction.34... 

Piperidones are important piperidine derivatives. Other methods are available for their synthesis, e.g. the Dieckmann cyclization of the diesters 1, the Thorpe-Ziegler cyclization of the dinitriles 2 and cyclization of dialkyl ketones or acetone dicarboxylic esters with aldehydes and primary amines in a Mannich reaction ... 

This synthesis is usually carried out in the presence of alkaline catalysts. The catalyst is neutralized and at least partially remains in the final product. Primary Cg-Cig long-chain alcohols are generally used for ethoxylation. The alcohols may be of synthetic (Ziegler or oxo alcohols), vegetable and animal origin. Other hydroxo compounds can be subjected to ethoxylation, for example diols, such as 2,4,7,9- tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol ( Surfinol ), vegetable sterols, lanoline fractions enriched by sterols and fatty alcohols [34]. Ethoxylated alcohols and mercaptanes modified by a subsequent addition of propylene oxide or ethoxylated and propoxylated alcohols mentioned before (section 1.2.2) are of some industrial importance. 

Primary alcohols are the second most important class of detergent feedstocks after alkylbenzenes. They are produced either by the catalytic hydrogenation of methyl esters or fatty acids derived from oils and fats e.g. coconut oil or tallow, or from synthetic sources. Alcohols manufactured from Ziegler type processes produce even-numbered chain length primary alcohols. The basic process steps are synthesis of the triethylaluminium catalyst, chain growA from an ethylene precursor, oxidation and finally hydrolysis. 

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