Abstract:To explore the green synthesis process of isomeric fatty acid esters and reveal the relationship between the physical chemistry properties of oils and their effects on skin. A series of isomeric fatty acid esters were synthesized by solvent-free method using isomeric fatty alcohols and 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid as raw materials, p-toluenesulfonic acid and phosphorous acid (molar ratio 3.05:1) as composite catalysts. The synthesis conditions of model compound isononyl isononanoate (ININ) were optimized by single factor and response surface methodology. The structure of ININ was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR. The physical chemistry parameters such as surface interfacial tension, contact angle, diffusion coefficient, friction coefficient and compatibility were determined. The effect of the structure of isomeric fatty acid esters on its wetting, spreading, moistening and cleaning ability was investigated. The results showed that the optimum conditions for the synthesis of ININ were as follows: the amount of catalyst (mass percentage of isononanoic acid) was 1.44%, the conversion of isononanoic acid was 97.17% when the molar ratio of isononyl alcohol to isononanoic acid was 1.16:1.0, reaction temperature was 130.5 ℃ and reaction time was 3.73 h. The synthetic esters were colorless, transparent and odorless, and the conversions of fatty acids were more than 95%. The surface tension of polymethyl branched isomeric fatty acid esters ININ and isotridecyl isononanoate (INIT) was less than 30 mN/m, the contact angle was less than 50°, and the diffusion rate was about 40 mm/s, which had good compatibility with makeup ingredients, can spontaneously spread out on the skin. Freshness and cleanliness superior to traditional mineral oils and linear fatty acid esters. When 8 kinds of fatty acid esters were applied to the skin, the static friction coefficient and dynamic friction coefficient were reduced by more than 59% and 60%, respectively. Isononanoic acid 2-hexyl decanol ester has a relatively symmetrical number of hydrophobic chains and better wettability.