This acid is used in the production of nylon (nylon - 6,12), polyamides, coatings, adhesives, greases, polyesters, dyestuffs, detergents, flame retardants, and fragrances. It is now produced by fermentation of long-chain alkanes with a specific strain of Candida tropicalis. Its monounsaturated analogue (traumatic acid) is described below.
Induced mutation of dodecanedioic acid producing Candida tropicalis.
Dodecanedioic acid is used as an intermediate for plasticizers, lubricants and adhesives. It is also used in antiseptics, top-grade coatings, painting materials, corrosion inhibitor and surfactant. It finds application in engineering plastics such as nylon 612.
Dodecanedioic acid is prepared from cyc1ododecene (obtained from butadiene)
by methods which are entirely analogous to those used to prepare
adipic acid from benzene. The cyclododecene is reduced to
cyclododecane, which is oxidized firstly to a mixture of cyc1ododecanol and
cyclododecanone and then to dodecanedioic acid. Dodecanedioic acid is a
colourless crystalline solid, m.p. 129°C.
ChEBI: An alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acid that is dodecane in which the methyl groups have been oxidised to the corresponding carboxylic acids.
Crystallise the dioic acid from water, 75% or 95% EtOH (solubility is 10%), or glacial acetic acid. [Beilstein 2 IV 2126.]
