Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of saccharide fatty acid polyesters via a two-step process is provided. In the first step, a saccharide is partially esterified so as to contain, on average, between about 1.5 to 3.5 lower acyl ester groups. In the second step, the partially esterified saccharide is reacted with a fatty acid-containing reagent (for example, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, salts of fatty acids, or fatty acid anhydrides) whereby the lower acyl ester groups and the hydroxyl groups on the partially esterified saccharide are replaced with fatty acid ester groups in a transesterification reaction to form a saccharide fatty acid polyesters. The use of a partially esterified saccharide as a reactant in the transesterification reaction allows for a more homogeneous reaction system, less caramelization or other decomposition reactions, and less low molecular weight ester by-product formation.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of saccharide fatty acid polyesters via an intermolecular transesterification reaction is provided. A saccharide lower acyl ester (for example, sucrose octaacetate) is reacted with a fatty acid lower alkyl ester (for example, methyl stearate) in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst to produce a saccharide fatty acid polyester. The reaction is carried out at relatively low temperatures in the absence of solvent. The relatively low molecular weight by-produce ester is removed from the reaction mixture during the course of the reaction in order to drive the equilibrium transesterification reaction to completion. The saccharide fatty acid polyesters are useful as fat substitutes or low-calorie fats in food compositions.