This paper reviews properties and synthesis of saturated branched fatty compounds and their application. Especially industrially established processes based on the Guerbet reaction, Fatty acid isomerization, Oxo‐ and Koch synthesis will be presented. Also new laboratory methods will be discussed, e.g., the Lewis acid‐induced hydroalkylation of oleic acids. Recently, another new process has been developed and tested in miniplant scale, the homogeneously catalyzed co‐oligomerization of linoleic acid with ethylene. This process combines the co‐oligomerization step with the heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation and an additional extraction to recycle the catalyst. Practical applications: This review presents synthesis routes of saturated branched fatty compounds based on both, established processes in industry and recent research results on alternative routes. A new developed process on the co‐oligomerization of fatty acids or esters is highlighted as an alternative route to form saturated branched fatty compounds. Reformulation of mineral oil based lubricants for improved biodegradability in, e.g., high‐loss lubrication systems and high‐risk hydraulic systems is highly encouraged by the oleo industry. Therefore, chemical modification of vegetable oils is also interesting for recent research on biolubricants. In addition the paper reviews latest scientific papers and patents on already industrially established processes or synthesis routes, like the fatty acid isomerization, hydroformylation, and the formation of Guerbet alcohols or Neo acids. Covering the respective reactions this review combines interesting synthesis routes for both, oleo‐ and petrochemistry. Saturated branched fatty compounds can be synthesized from both, petro‐ and oleochemical feedstock. Respective industrial processes and new synthesis routes are reviewed. New modification methods of vegetable oils represent interesting alternatives for, e.g., the formation of biolubricants.

Verzweigte Oleochemikalien unterscheiden sich in ihren physikochemischen Eigenschaften deutlich von Ihren geradkettigen Homologen, woraus sich ein gesteigertes industrielles Interesse an dieser Stoffklasse ergibt. Innerhalb der vorliegenden Untersuchungen wurde ein homogenkatalysiertes Verfahren zur Herstellung verzweigter Oleochemikalien mittels Tandemreaktion linolhaltiger Fettsäurederivate und Ethen weiterentwickelt. In den Miniplant‐Versuchen konnte der Katalysator mithilfe eines temperaturgesteuerten Mehrkomponenten‐Lösungsmittelsystems über eine Versuchsdauer von 100 h erfolgreich recycelt werden.

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Saturated branched fatty derivatives are of great interest for the lubricants and cosmetics industry due to their improved temperature and viscosity behavior compared to the corresponding linear homologues. One way to produce saturated branched derivatives is the homogeneous rhodium-catalyzed conjugation and cooligomerization of linoleic compounds based on renewable resources, e.g., sunflower oil, with ethene. The catalyst extraction behavior of the homogeneous rhodium catalyst RhCl 3 Á3H 2 O from saturated branched fatty derivatives for catalyst recycling was studied. Investigation of the extraction parameters was performed using the model substance isostearic acid. Additionally, extraction of rhodium from co-oligomer mixtures with different grade of saturation was carried out successfully. Also, the influence of solvent residues from prior reaction steps was evaluated.

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