Synthesis of azelaic acid and suberic acid from Vernonia galamensis oil

We have demonstrated the potential of Vernonia galamensis seed oil as a source of dibasic acids. Reaction of nitric acid with V. galamensis oil afforded a homologous series of dibasic acids that include butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid (adipic), heptanedioic acid (pimelic), octanedioic acid (suberic), nonanedioic acid (azelaic), decanedioic acid (sebacic), and undecanedioic acid. Using a combination of chloroform extraction and subsequent water crystallizations, we have isolated suberic acid (∼95% purity by GC) and azelaic acid (∼95% purity by GC). The isolated yield of suberic acid is 15% and of azelaic acid is 11%. Reported reaction of nitric acid with ricinoleic acid (from castor oil) gave 8.8% suberic acid and 7.2% of a mixture of suberic and azelaic acids.