Esters with warming properties

A method of generating heat at a surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a quantity of a heat-generating composition to the surface, wherein the heat-generating composition has the formula:
• wherein x+y or x+y+z, or combinations thereof, has an average value ranging from about 6 to about 100;
• and
• applying a quantity of an aqueous composition to the applied heat-generating composition, whereby the interaction between the heat-generating composition and the aqueous composition generates heat at the surface.

A method of generating heat at a surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a quantity of a heat-generating composition to a moist surface, the heat-generating composition comprising:
• a substituted polyhydric alcohol and an ester of a carboxylic acid, the heat-generating composition having the structure of:
• wherein R′ is H, CH3—(O[CH2]n)z—OH, or
• and wherein x+y, x+y+z or w+x+y+z, or combinations thereof, has an average value ranging from about 6 to about 100;
• wherein R is a hydrocarbon or mixture of alkyl groups comprising from about 3 to about 19 carbons, wherein n is an integer ranging from about 2 to about 4, or combinations thereof;
• and m is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 6, the interaction between the heat-generating composition and the moist surface generates heat at the surface.

A method for applying heat to a subject in need thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying to the subject an amount of a composition comprising a substituted polyhydric alcohol and an ester of a carboxylic acid, the composition having the structure of:
• wherein R′ is H, CH3—(O[CH2]n)z—OH, or
• and wherein x+y, x+y+z or w+x+y+z, or combinations thereof, has an average value ranging from about 6 to about 100;
• wherein R is a hydrocarbon or mixture of alkyl groups comprising from about 3 to about 19 carbons, wherein n is an integer ranging from about 2 to about 4, or combinations thereof;
• and m is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 6;
• and
• applying a quantity of an aqueous composition to the applied heat-generating composition, the interaction between the heat-generating composition and the aqueous composition generating heat and applying the heat to the subject.

A composition for generating heat, the composition comprising:

• a substituted polyhydric alcohol and an ester of a carboxylic acid, the heat-generating composition having the structure of:
• wherein R′ is H, CH3—(O[CH2]n)z—OH, or
• and wherein x+y, x+y+z or w+x+y+z, or combinations thereof, has an average value ranging from about 6 to about 100;
• wherein R is a hydrocarbon or mixture of alkyl groups comprising from about 3 to about 19 carbons, wherein n is an integer ranging from about 2 to about 4, or combinations thereof;
• and m is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 6, the interaction between the heat-generating composition and an aqueous agent generates heat.