Soybean oil as a renewable feedstock for nitrogen-containing derivatives

A review is given of the use of soybean oil as a renewable feedstock to produce a range of different materials that contain nitrogen. In the past, most efforts have been concentrated on converting triglycerides to fatty amines and amides. Indeed, many industrially significant fatty amines and amides are known and widely used. More recently, several research groups have developed novel approaches to functionalize the fatty acid chain structures to produce novel compounds, surfactants, and even polymers that contain nitrogen. Some of the approaches (involving organic and enzymatic reactions) may have industrial relevance. Included in this review are reactions with triglyceride oils, fatty acid esters, and methyl soyate (methyl esters of triglyceride oils).