Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fats: Metal acetylacetonates

Hydrogenation of linseed and soybean methyl esters was achieved at 100–180C, 100–1000 psi H₂ and 0.05–0.25 moles catalyst per mole of ester. The relative activity of metal acetylacetonates in decreasing order was: nickel (III), cobalt (III), copper (II) and iron (III). Reduction occurred readily in methanol solution but only slowly in dimethylformamide and acetic acid. No reduction occurred in the absence of solvents. Soybean oil was also hydrogenated rapidly with nickel (III) acetylacetonate in methanol, but in this system the triglycerides were converted to methyl esters. Nickel (III) acetylacetonate was the most selective catalyst toward linolenate hydrogenation. Methyl linoleate and linolenate hydrogenated with nickel(III) acetylacetonate were fractionated into monoenes, dienes and trienes. Thecis monoenes separated in 62 to 68% yield had double bonds in the original position. The remainingtrans monoenes had extensively scattered unsaturation. The dienes and trienes showed no conjugation, but some of the double bonds in the dienes were not conjugatable with alkali. Little stearate was formed. Presented at AOCS meeting in Chicago, 1964 No. Util. Res. and Dev. Div. ARS, USDA     

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fats: Iron Pentacarbonyl

Iron pentacarbonyl is an effective homogeneous catalyst for the reduction of polyunsaturated fats. Hydrogenation of soybean oil and its methyl esters has been achieved at 180C, hydrogen pressures of 100-1,000 psi, and 0.05–0.5 molar concentrations of catalyst. Analyses of partially reduced products show considerable isomerization of double bonds, reduction of linolenate and linoleate with little or no increase in stearate, and accumulation ofcis,trans- andtrans, trans-conjugated dienes, and isolatedtrans monoenes. The unreduced trienes include diene conjugated fatty esters. The nonconjugated dienes contain large amounts oftrans and nonalkali conjugatable unsaturation. Considerable scattering of double bonds is evident in different fractions between the C₄ and C₁₆ positions. Complex formation between iron carbonyl and unsaturated fats is also indicated. The course of the homogeneous hydrogenation catalyzed by iron pentacarbonyl appears similar to the heterogeneous catalytic reaction. Metal carbonyls are well known for their isomerizing effects and their ability to form stable complexes with olefins. These homogeneous complexes provide suitable model systems to study the mechanism of catalytic hydrogenation of fats.     

Selective hydrogenation with copper catalysts: V. Kinetics and mechanism at high pressure

The mechanism of hydrogenation at 900~950 psi with copper-chromite catalyst was investigated with pure methyl esters as well as their mixtures. A comparison of double bond distribution intrans-monoenes formed during hydrogenation of linoleate and alkali-conjugated linoleate revealed that 85~95% of the double bonds in linoleate conjugated prior to hydrogenation. The mode of hydrogen addition to conjugated triene and diene at high pressure is similar to that at low pressure but positional and geometric isomerizations of unreduced conjugated esters were less at high pressure. Geometric isomerization of methyl linoleate and linolenate was considerable at high pressure whereas it was negligible at low pressure. The absence of conjugated products during hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acid esters resulted from their high reactivity. Conjugated dienes are 12 times more reactive than the triene, methyl linolenate, and 31 times more reactive than the diene, methyl linoleate. The products of methyl linolenate hydrogenation were the same as those predicted by the conjugation mechanism. Presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society, San Francisco, April 29~May 3, 1979.     

Selective conjugation of soybean esters to increase hydrogenation selectivity

Polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters of soybean oil (MeSBO) were selectively conjugated as a means of increasing the linolenate selectivity of various homogeneous and heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts. Kinetics of the conjugation reaction in various solvents indicated that linolenate conjugated 5–8 times faster than linoleate. Selective conjugation of MeSBO with potassiumt-butoxide in dipolar solvents resulted in an increase in linolenate hydrogenation selectivity to 7–8 with Ni and Pd heterogeneous catalysts, and to 7–10 with homogeneous and heterogeneous chromium carbonyl catalysts.Trans-unsaturation in the hydrogenated products was only 1–3% with the chromium carbonyl catalysts, in contrast to 30–39% with the heterogeneous metal catalysts. Triglycerides were readily converted to partial glycerides andt-butyl esters with the potassiumt-butoxide reagent. Presented at the AOCS North Central Section Symposium, March 1980.     

Isomerization of unsaturated fatty esters by iron pentacarbonyl. Preparation of iron tricarbonyl complexes of polyunsaturated fats

Iron pentacarbonyl is a powerful isomerization agent of unsaturated fatty esters. Highly conjugated fats are obtained when polyunsaturated fatty esters are treated with an excess Fe(CO)₅ to form complexes followed by decomposition of the complexes with FeCl₃. Iron tricarbonyl complexes were prepared in 80 to 95% yields from methyl linoleate, linolenate and polyunsaturated fatty esters of soybean, linseed and safflower oils by heating at 180–185C with 2 moles Fe(CO)₅ per mole ester under nitrogen pressure. Decomposition of these complexes with FeCl₃ resulted in 90 to 97% conjugation of the polyunsaturated fatty esters mainly in the alltrans configuration. Isolatedtrans unsaturation reached levels of 18 to 30%. Methyl oleate yielded 74%trans unsaturation but no complex of iron carbonyl was obtained. Presented in part at AOCS meeting in Houston, 1965. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Hydrogenation of linolenate. VIII. Effects of catalyst concentration and of temperature on rate,selectivity, andtrans formation

The effects of catalyst concentration and of temperature on linolenate selectivity,trans formation, and rate of hydrogenation have been studied for a commercial electrolytic nickel catalyst. Results obtained with an equimixture of linoleate and linolenate, following the procedure previously described, are presented as isometric drawings, which cover the experimentally practicable temperature ranges from 70–230C and nickel concentration from 0.05–10%. Whereas the rate of hydrogenation depends upon both temperature and catalyst concentration,trans formation is essentially a function of temperature while selectivity is little influenced by either parameter. Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans, La., 1962. A laboratory of the No. Utiliz. Res. & Dev. Div., ARS, U. S. D. A.     

A simple,rapid micromethod for the determination of the structure of unsaturated fatty acids via ozonolysis

A micromethod for the localization of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids via ozonolysis employing pyrolytic cleavage of ozonides in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst is described. Cleavage of the ozonides is carried out in a gasliquid chromatographie instrument in a small glass tube, containing the catalyst, inserted in the top of the column opposite the in input heaters at 225C. Ozonides of methyl esters of straight chain unsaturated fatty acids are cleaved through the action of the catalyst to aldehyde fragments which are swept simultaneously into the column for analysis. The double bond positions are deduced from the chain length of the fragments. The method is demonstrated on methyl oleate, linoleate, linolenate and arachidonate. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Cincinnati, October, 1965.     

Kinetics of hydrogenation of conjugated triene and diene with nickel,palladium, platinum and copper-chromite catalysts

A mixture of methyl linoleate and alkali-conjugated methyl linoleate was reduced with nickel, palladium, platinum and copper-chromite catalysts. The course of hydrogenation was followed by gas liquid chromatography of samples withdrawn at intervals. Relative rate constants of reactants and inermediates were calculated by a computer. Conjugated linoleate was 10–18 times more reactive than methyl linoleate with all catalysts except platinum, which showed no selectivity at 60 C. At 150 C conjugated diene reacted four times faster than methyl linoleate with platinum catalyst. A conjugated diene-to-stearate shunt was observed with palladium and platinum catalysts. When β-eleostearate was hydrogenated with the same catalysts, 50–97% of the triene was reduced directly to monoene with all catalysts except copper chromite, which selectively reduced conjugated triene to conjugated diene. On the basis of present kinetic data and previous knowledge about the mode of hydrogen addition to conjugated systems, a scheme has been proposed to account for the products formed during hydrogenation of methyl linolenate. ARS, USDA.     

Selektivhydrierung von Fettstoffen mit metallorganischen Mischkatalysatoren nach Ziegler-Sloan-Lapporte IV: Isomerenverteilung während der Hydrierung mehrfach ungesättigter Fettsäuremethylester

Selective Hydrogenation of Fats and Derivatives Using Ziegler-Type Organometallic Catalysts IV: Distribution of Isomers during Hydrogenation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Methylesters Hydrogenation of methyl linoleate using a Ziegler-type catalyst, containing nickel stearate and triethyl aluminium, proceeds mainly without previous conjugation or trans-isomerization. Both olefinic double bonds are hydrogenated with equal probability. As long as the reaction mixture contains double unsaturated esters, these compounds are inhibiting hydrogenation and isomerization of single unsaturated esters. During hydrogenation of methyl linolenate there is only less selectivity to formation of methyl linoleate. Intermediate product is a mixture of single and double unsaturated fatty acid methylesters. In the latter compounds after consumption of triple unsaturated esters both double bonds are separated by two or more methylene groups. Polyenic compounds with 1,4-position of olefinic double bonds are preferably hydrogenated than polyenic compounds with greater distance between the double bonds.     

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fats: Group VIB metal carbonyl complexes

Carbonyl complexes of Cr, Mo and W have been studied as soluble catalysts for the hydrogenation of methyl sorbate and of methyl esters from soybean oil. With methyl sorbate, relative catalytic activity decreased in the approximate order: mesitylene-Mo(CO)₃, cycloheptatriene-Mo(CO)₃, cycloheptatriene-Cr(CO)₃, bicyclo (2,2,1) hepta-2,5-diene-Mo(CO)₄, chlorobenzene-Cr(CO)₃, methyl benzoate-Cr(CO)₃, mesitylene-W(CO)₃, benzene-Cr(CO)₃, toluene-Cr(CO)₃, mesitylene-Cr(CO)₃, and hexamethylbenzene-Cr(CO)₃. Order of catalytic activity was related to thermal stability of the complexes during hydrogenation. With mesitylene-M(CO)₃ complexes, selectivity varied in the order Cr>Mo>W. Under certain conditions the mesitylene complexes of W, Cr and Mo reduced methyl sorbate respectively to methyl 2-, 3-, and 4-hexenoates as main products. The more active and thermally stable Cr(CO)₃ complexes catalyzed effectively the hydrogenation of linoleate and linolenate in soybean oil esters with little or no stearate formation. The hydrogenated products formed with the benzoate complex at 165–175 C contained 50–67% monoene, 18–30% diene, 2–7% conjugated diene, and only 3–7%trans unsaturation. Linolenate-linoleate selectivity values varied from 3 to 5 and linoleate-oleate selectivity from 7 to 80. Monoene fractions had 40–50% of the double bond in the C-9 position; the rest of the unsaturation was distributed mainly between the C-10 and C-12 positions. Conjugation is apparently an intermediate step in the hydrogenation of linoleate and linolenate. The Cr(CO)₃ complexes are unique in catalyzing the hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty esters to monounsaturated fatty esters of lowtrans content. Presented at AOCS-AACC Joint Meeting, Washington, D.C. April, 1968. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Thiocyanations VI: Iron-catalyzed thiocyanations of unsaturated acids and esters

The effect of iron catalyst and the advantages of its use in thiocyanogen additions to a series of unsaturated acids and esters were studied. In the absence of catalyst, the deactivation effect of the carboxylic group on the double bond is observed up to and including the Δ⁵ position, conversions to products are low, and the products in some cases are not the anticipated dithiocyanate adducts. These normally unreactive double bonds are induced to react with thiocyanogen by iron catalyst. Furthermore, for the catalyzed reactions of Δ² and Δ³ acids and esters, the esters are found to be more reactive than the acids, although both produce trace to low yields of adducts. Single isolated bonds located in any position beyond Δ³, including terminal, are thiocyanated rapidly and in high yield in the presence of iron catlyst. Methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate form ca. 80% of the tetrathiocyanate and hexathiocyanate adducts, respectively. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Chicago, September 1976     

Selective hydrogenation with copper catalysts: III. Hydrogen addition and isomerization

β-Eleostearate was found to be reduced by 1,6 addition of hydrogen. Because of the extensive isomerization of conjugated trienes during hydrogenation, the occurrence of 1,2 and 1,4 addition reactions could not be proven. Conjugated dienes were reduced by both 1,2 and 1,4 addition of hydrogen. The double bond distribution in the products formed from linoleate, linolenate and their isomers was consistent with the assumption that the double bonds in polyunsaturated fatty esters conjugate and then add hydrogen. Extensive isomerization (positional and geometric) of the conjugated double bond systems occurred during hydrogenation. Monoenes were not isomerized under similar conditions of hydrogenation. Since double bond distribution in monoenes formed from linoleate and alkali-isomerized linoleate was identical, indications are that conjugation precedes hydrogenation. Presented in part at the symposium “Hydrogenation Process,” Division of Industrial Engineering Chemistry, 157th American Chemical Society Meeting, Minneapolis, April 1968. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Products formed by photosensitized oxidation of unsaturated fatty acid esters

Photosensitized oxidation of unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester was carried out using methylene blue as a sensitizer. Oxidation products, monohydro-peroxides, were identified as trimethylsilyl derivatives. Methyl oleate gave the 9- and 10-isomers; methyl linoleate, the 9-, 10-, 12-, and 13-isomers; and methyl linolenate, the 9-, 10-, 12-, 13-, 15-, and 16-isomers, respectively. The double bond to which the hydroperoxide group attached was shifted to the adjacent position in each isomer. Thus, both conjugated and nonconjugated isomers were present in methyl linoleate monohydroperoxides and methyl linolenate monohydroperoxides. By the inhibition experiment, it was ascertained that the above reaction proceeded via singlet oxygen. The relative rates of methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate were 1.0∶1.7∶2.3, respectively. These results obtained from the methyl esters were applied to the photosensitized oxidation of triglycerides purified from vegetable oils, and the reaction mechanism on triglycerides was proposed.     

High pressure liquid chromatography of autoxidized lipids: II. Hydroperoxy-cyclic peroxides and other secondary products from methyl linolenate

A previous study of autoxidation products by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of methyl oleate and linoleate was extended to methyl linolenate. Autoxidized methyl linolenate was fractionated by HPLC either after reduction to allylic alcohols on a reverse phase system, or directly on a micro silica column. Isolated oxidation products were characterized by thin layer and gas liquid chromatography and by ultraviolet, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Secondary products from the autoxidation mixtures (containing 3.5–8.5% monohydroperoxides) included epoxy unsaturated compounds (0.2–0.3%), hydroxy or hydroperoxy-cyclic peroxides (3.8–7.7%), epoxy-hydroxy dienes (<0.1%), dihydroxy or dihydroperoxides with conjugated diene-triene and conjugated triene systems (0.9–2.9%). Cyclization of the 12- and 13-hydroperoxides of linolenate would account for their lower relative concentration than the 9- and 16-hydroperoxides. Dihydroperoxides may be derived from the 9- and 16-linolenate hydroperoxides. Cyclic peroxides and dihydroperoxides are suggested as important flavor precursors in oxidized fats.     

The reaction of nonconjugated unsaturated fatty acid esters with maleic anhydride

Summary 1. The non-conjugated unsaturated fatty acid esters react with maleic anhydride at 200° C. or above. 2. At 200° C., methyl oleate reacts with almost 1 mole, methyl linoleate with 2 moles, and methyl linolenate with 2.5 moles of maleic anhydride, when an excess of anhydride is present. Methyl stearate reacts negligibly. 3. Methyl oleate reacts without affecting unsaturation. 4. The first molecule of anhydride reacting with methyl linoleate reacts mostly to saturate one double bond, while the second one adds on without affecting unsaturation. 5. The first two molecules of anhydride reacting with methyl linolenate react mostly to saturate one double bond each, while the third molecule adds on without affecting unsaturation. 6. The possible structures of the reaction products have been discussed. Presented before the American Oil Chemists’ Society at their meeting in Chicago, October 8–10, 1941. Now associated with the Southern Regional Research Laboratory, New Orleans, Louisiana. A cooperative organization participated in by the Bureaus of Agricultural Chemistry and Engineering and Plant Industry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of the North Central States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.     

Selective homogeneous hydrogenation of triunsaturated fats catalyzed by tricarbonyl chromium complexes

The need for a selective catalyst to hydrogenate linolenate in soybean oil has prompted our continuing study of various model triunsaturated fats. Hydrogenation of methylβ-eleostearate (methyltrans,trans,trans-9,11,13-octadecatrienoate) with Cr(CO)₃ complexes yielded diene products expected from 1,4-addition (trans-9,cis-12- andcis-10,trans-13-octadecadienoates). Withα-eleostearate (cis,trans,trans-9,11,13-octadecatrienoate), stereoselective 1,4-reduction of thetrans,trans-diene portion yielded linoleate (cis,cis-9,12-octadecadienoate). However,cis,trans-1,4-dienes were also formed from the apparent isomerization ofα- toβ-eleostearate. Hydrogenation of methyl linolenate (methylcis,cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoate) produced a mixture of isomeric dienes and monoenes attributed to conjugation occurring as an intermediate step. The hydrogenation ofα-eleostearin in tung oil was more stereoselective in forming thecis,cis-diene than the corresponding methyl ester. Hydrogenation of linseed oil yielded a mixture of dienes and monoenes containing 7%trans unsaturation. We have suggested how the mechanism of stereoselective hydrogenation with Cr(CO)₃ catalysts can be applied to the problem of selective hydrogenation of linolenate in soybean oil. No. Market. Nutr. Res. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Selective hydrogenation of soybean oil: X. Ultra high pressure and low pressure1

Soybean oil was partially hydrogenated with copper-chromite catalyst at 170 C and up to 30,000 psig hydrogen pressure. Catalyst activity increased with increase in pressure up to 15,000 psig. The linolenate selectivity (S_Ln) of the reaction remained essentially unchanged over 50–1000 psig pressure range. A S_Ln of 5.5 to 5.6 was achieved at 15,000 to 30,000 psig pressure range. This value is somewhat lower than the selectivity at 50–1000 psig, but much higher than that obtained with nickel catalysts. Geometric isomerization increased as pressure increased up to 200 psig; above this pressure, the percenttrans remained the same up to 500 psig.trans Isomer content decreased when the pressure was increased to 30,000 psig. cis,trans Isomerization of linoleate was greater at 1000 psig and 15,000 psig than at 50 psig. At 15,000 psig, part of the linoleate in soybean oil was hydrogenated directly without prior conjugation, whereas at low pressures, all of the double bonds first conjugate prior to hydrogenation. This difference in mechanism might explain the lower selectivities obtained at high pressures. Conjugated diene isomers were found in the products up to 200 psig. Above this pressure conjugated diene was not measurable. No significant differences were found in the double bond distribution oftrans monoenes even though the amount oftrans monoene formed decreased as pressure was increased to 30,000 psig. 1 Presented at the AOCS meeting, San Francisco, May 1979.     

The metabolism of polyenoic fatty acids

Feeding experiments with C¹⁴-labeled and unlabeled unsaturated fatty acids have been used to study the possible routes of formation of the C₂₀- and C₂₂-polyenoic fatty acids of rat liver phosphatides. The acids of the palmitoleate, oleate, linoleate, and linolenate types (considered on the basis of the position of the double bond closest to the methyl end) are apparently formed from the C₁₆ and C₁₈ unsaturated acids of the corresponding types. The results rule out possible transformations of the C₂₀- and C₂₂-polyenoic acids from one type to another, and demonstrate the exclusive introduction of new double bonds toward the carboxyl group. Isomers of linoleate or linolenate in which the double bonds were shifted by one carbon atom toward the carboxyl or methyl groups were incorporated into the phosphatides only to a negligible extent in the form of polyenoic acids.     

Physical properties of fatty acid methyl esters. IV. Ultrasonic sound velocity

The ultrasonic sound velocity of the unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters from acetate to nonadecanoate, methyl oleate, linoleate, linolenate, and erucate have been measured at 20C and 40C in the liquid state. Data of the saturated compounds were correlated with the Smittenberg relation and a reasonable fit was noted. The molar sound velocity according to Rao was computed from the observed values and increments for the CH₂ group and for the double bond are presented.     

Preparation of pure fatty acid methyl esters by countercurrent distribution

Summary Acetonitrile-pentane-hexane makes a desirable solvent system for preparation of pure methyl esters because of its immiscibility, selectivity toward unsaturation, low boiling point, stability, and ease of recovery. Since separated esters are removed from the apparatus dissolved in the pentane-hexane layer, successive batches may be fractionated without removing the acetonitrile layer from the instrument. Applications have been illustrated for the preparation of methyl linolenate from an 85% linolenate concentrate, methyl linoleate from safflower esters, and methyl arachidonate from pig liver lipids. This procedure provides a source of “natural” fatty acids with the double bond configuration unchanged, in contrast to those from the conventional bromination-debromination process. Automation of the process is completed by use of a recording refractometer which monitors concentration of solutions issuing from the extractor. Resolutions to be anticipated with lesser numbers of extraction tubes than 200 are calculated for an equal mixture of linoleate and linolenate. Presented at the 50th meeting, American Oil Chemists' Society, New Orleans, La., April 20–22, 1959. This is a laboratory of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.