A Simple and Efficient Large-Scale Synthesis of Metal Salts of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

A simple, inexpensive, one-step general procedure was developed for the preparation of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) metal salts. This approach offers the advantage of a practical route and is superior to literature methods. Also, it overcomes many of the limitations previously reported for the preparation of fatty acid salts. The potential utility of this method is illustrated by the production of pilot-scale quantities of high-purity (>99.9%) sodium decanoate.