XRecent advances in canola oil hydrogenations

Rapeseed oil has been the source of edible oils in many parts of the world. In the last decade, Canadian plant breeders have developed new rapeseed cultivars which yield oil low in erucic acid and meal low in glucosinolates. These cultivars were named “canola” by the Canadian rapeseed industry. Literature on the hydrogenation characteristics of canola oil is limited; however, in recent years, several aspects of canola oil hydrogenations with commercial nickel catalysts have been reported including the formation ofrans-isomers, trisaturated glycerides and physical properties. In addition, as the methods for determination of sulfur compounds in canola oil developed, the effect of some isothiocyanates on the hydrogenation rate was further investigated to determine the relative catalyst poisoning ability of serveral of these sulfur compounds. However, during the last few years, most of the efforts were directed towards development of novel, selective and active catalysts for canola oil hydrogenations. These studies cover a wide range of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts including sulfur poisoned nickel, gold supported on silica, arene-Cr(CO)₃, RuCl₂(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂, palladium on carbon, palladium black and nickel and arene-Cr(CO)₃ mixtures. Effects of temperature, pressure, catalyst concentration and catalyst preparation procedure on the hydrogenation rate, selectivity, catalyst life and quality of the oil were examined and compared with that of commercial nickel catalysts. A brief discussion about continous hydrogenations of canola oil with commerical fixed bed catalysts is also included.     

Homogenous catalytic conjugation of polyunsaturated fats by chromium carbonyls

Various arene-Cr (CO)₃ complexes and Cr(CO)₆ are effective soluble catalysts for the conjugation of polyunsaturated fats. Methyl benzoate-Cr(CO)₃ is one of the most active catalysts. The following conjugation levels were obtained: methyl linoleate, 65%; methyl linolenate, 45%; the polyunsaturates in soybean and safflower oils, 73%; and in linseed oil 48%. Conjugated dienes from linoleate were predominantlycis,trans in configuration. Their double bonds were distributed between C₅ and C₁₆ of the fatty acid chain. Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation are side reactions, which seem to limit the yield of conjugated dienes from methyl linoleate. A conjugation mechanism is proposed that involves allyl-HCr(CO)₃ complexes as intermediates undergoing 1,3- and 1,5-hydrogen shifts. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969. No, Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Microstructural study of synthesized polyethylenes by homogeneous and heterogeneous nickel α-diimine catalysts

In this work, ethylene polymerization was investigated by using homogeneous and heterogenouse nickel α-diimine catalysts [1,4-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) acenaphthene diimine nickel(II) dibromide]. Methyl aluminoxane (MAO) and triethyl aluminum (TEA) were used as cocatalysts in homogenous and heterogeneous polymerizations, respectively. The heterogeneous catalyst showed lower activity than its homogeneous equivalent. The influence of polymerization temperature and heterogenization conditions was studied on the microstructure properties of the prepared polymers. Increasing polymerization temperature (T _P) up to 50 °C decreased the activity of both homogenous (LN) and heterogeneous (LNS) nickel α-diimine catalysts. The highest activities were 1286 and 982 kg PE (mol Ni bar h)^?1 obtained at T _P = 30 °C for LN and LNS catalysts, respectively. The polymer samples obtained by supported catalyst (LNS) showed lower unsaturation contents. Moreover, DSC analysis did not show any melting peaks for polymers obtained by LN catalyst due to their amorphous structure, which was confirmed by XRD analysis. The microstructure of the prepared polymers was completed by successive self-nucleation annealing (SSA) and was investigated by ¹³C NMR studies. The SSA thermogram of samples made by LNS catalyst exhibited several crystal types with different lamella thicknesses. The branches in polyethylene samples produced by homogenous catalyst were higher and showed more diversity. The total methyl branch percentages for both LN and LNS catalysts were 13.1 and 3.4%, respectively.     

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation with an Immobilised [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 Dimer

[RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ has been immobilized on silica and mesoporous MCM-41 and used as a catalyst for the atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) of styrene, (methyl)methacrylate and acrylonitrile. The heterogeneous catalyst has a comparable activity as the homogeneous analogues and showed no significant loss of catalytic activity when reused.     

Intrinsic kinetics of nickel/calcium aluminate catalyst for methane steam reforming

A new catalyst for steam reforming of methane based on nickel/calcium aluminate is prepared. The new catalyst has shown stability and high activity at low steam to methane ratios. In this paper the intrinsic rate equations are derived and parameters estimation made. The rate equations show non-monotonic dependence on steam partial pressure. The rate equations also show that the primary product is CO₂ while CO is formed via the reverse water-gas shift reaction. The mechanism proposed and the rate equations obtained indicate that it may be essential to propose specific rate models for any given catalyst rather than generalized mechanism and rate models.     

A recoverable catalyst Co(salen) in zeolite Y for the synthesis of methyl N-phenylcarbamate by oxidative carbonylation of aniline

A green process for the synthesis of methyl N-phenylcarbamate (MPC) by the oxidative carbonylation of aniline was studied. In this process, Co(salen) complexes were successfully encapsulated in zeolite Y by a flexible ligand method. The heterogeneous catalysts were characterized by AAS, BET, IR, TGA, XRD and XPS. The catalytic activities of the encapsulated catalysts and their homogeneous analogues were examined in the oxidative carbonylation of aniline to MPC. Under the conditions of aniline (11 mmol), encapsulated catalyst (0.5 g), KI (0.365 g), CO/O₂ ratio 9:1, 4 MPa, 170 °C, 3 h, Co(salophen)(OH)₂–Y catalyst shows the highest activity with the conversion of 67.1% and the selectivity of 77.3%. Co(salophen)(OH)₂–Y could be recycled at least five times and no significant loss of catalytic activity was observed.     

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.     

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline CeO2 with High Surface Area by the Taguchi Method and its Application in Methanation

Mesoporous nanocrystalline cerium(IV) oxide (CeO₂) with high surface area was synthesized by precipitation using a cationic surfactant and employed as support for a nickel catalyst in CO methanation. The preparation factors of CeO₂ were optimized by the Taguchi method to achieve a sample with high surface area. The obtained results reveal that the sample prepared under optimized conditions has a mesoporous structure with high surface area and crystallite size. The addition of a surfactant significantly influences the structural properties of CeO₂ and improves the specific surface area. The optimized sample was employed as support for a nickel catalyst in CO methanation reaction. The prepared catalyst possessed a high activity compared to a commercial methanation catalyst.     

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of soybean oil: Palladium acetylacetonate

Soybean oil was hydrogenated with palladium acetylacetonate at 60–170 C, 150 psi hydrogen and 1–60 ppm palladium. The best linolenate selectivity (K_Le/K_Lo=3.5−3.7) was found at 80–120 C. At 120 C palladium acetylacetonate hydrogenated faster than the heterogeneous Pd-on-carbon catalyst.Trans isomerization with the homogeneous catalyst was much higher compared to Pd-on-carbon catalyst. The low activity of the palladium complex at low temperatures was improved with the addition of triethylaluminum. Among other metal acetylacetonates tested only nickel and chromium were mildly active, whereas cobalt and copper were devoid of catalyst activity.     

cis-bond-producing hydrogenation of polyunsaturates catalyzed by polymer-complexed Cr(CO)3 catalysts

cis-Bond-producing chromium carbonyl catalysts were prepared by complexing conventional or macroreticular, styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers or cross-linked poly (vinyl benzoate) with Cr(CO)₆. With one exception, these polymer-Cr(CO)₃ catalysts were as selective as the corresponding homogeneous arene-Cr(CO)₃ complexes for the formation ofcis-monoenes from methyl sorbate and from conjugated, polyunsaturated fatty esters in cyclohexane. Although several of the polymer catalysts were very active when fresh, they all lost activity on recycling. They could not be recycled more than two times before a marked decrease in activity occurred due to loss of Cr, as shown by elemental analysis and infrared absorption in the recovered catalyst. Thermal analysis indicated instability of the polymer complexes at hydrogenation temperatures.     

Photo-activated metal carbonyl complexes as stereoselective catalysts for the homogeneous hydrogenation of dienes

Significantly increased activity of Cr(CO)₆ was achieved for the stereoselective homogeneous hydrogenation of methyl sorbate andtrans,trans-conjugated fatty esters at ambient temperature and pressure by exposing the catalyst to UV irradiation (3500 Å) in a solvent mixture of cyclohexane-acetonitrile (20:1). In this solvent mixture, methyl sorbate was converted quantitatively at ambient conditions into methylcis-3-hexenoate, and methyltrans-9,trans-11-octadecadienoate into methylcis-10-octadecenoate (99.9%). These products are expected by 1,4-addition of hydrogen. Under these conditions no hydrogenation of methyl linoleate occurred. Under the same conditions, cycloheptatriene-Cr(CO)₃ showed lower activity than Cr(CO)₆, and Mo(CO)₆ and mesitylene-Mo(CO)₃ showed no significant activity toward conjugated substrates. When Cr(CO)₆ and Mo(CO)₆ were irradiated at 2537 Å they caused the geometric isomerization of methyl sorbate without hydrogenation, but had no effect on methyl linoleate. A hydrogenation mechanism is proposed for Cr(CO)₆ that involves CH₃CN- and H₂-Cr(CO)₃ complexes as intermediates for the stereoselective 1,4-addition of hydrogen totrans,trans-conjugated dienes.     

Hydroformylation of mixed octenes catalyzed by supported rhodium-based catalyst

In order to solve the difficult separation between catalyst and products in homogeneous system, the activated carbon (AC)-supported rhodium-based catalyst (Rh/AC) was prepared. Hydroformylation of mixed octenes catalyzed by Rh/AC was studied, and compared to that catalyzed by RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)₂ [TPPTS: trisodium salt of tris(m-sulphonylphenyl) phosphine], and [Rh(CH₃COO)₂]₂-Ph₃PO (Ph₃PO: triphenyl phosphine oxide). The performance test of the catalysts showed the Rh/AC presented higher catalytic activity, selectivity and air-stability. During the recycle experiments Rh/AC could be used 4 times without significant loss of rhodium. The effects of the supports, rhodium loading and reaction conditions on the catalytic performance of Rh/AC were investigated. The results showed petroleum coke-based activated carbon with higher surface area and more basic groups was advantageous to the formation of aldehydes. The heterogeneous Rh/AC catalyst displayed higher catalytic activity and reusability.     

Metathesis of methyl oleate with a homogeneous and a heterogeneous catalyst

The cometathesis reaction of methyl oleate (MO) with unsaturated dicarboxylic acid esters has been studied using either a homogeneous catalyst system (WCl₆-Me₄Sn) or a heterogeneous catalyst system (Re₂O₃-Al₂O₃-Me₄Sn). In the presence of the homogeneous catalyst, dimethyl-3-hexenedioate (DMHD) reacted with MO to give cometathesis products in 47% yield with a distribution of products that agreed with the theoretical equilibrium composition. When dipropyl-4-octenedioate (DPOD) was used, however, the yield of cometathesis products was less than 1%. The lower reactivity of DPOD might be due to the formation of a stable complex of DPOD with the catalyst. The cometathesis reaction of MO and DMHD was also catalyzed by the heterogeneous catalyst. However, the reaction rate decreased significantly and the distribution of products did not attain the theoretical. Similar results were obtained in the cometathesis reaction of MO and DPOD catalyzed by the heterogeneous catalyst. These results suggest that MO and DMHD are preferentially adsorbed onto the surface of this catalyst according to their polarity, and that the molar ratio of MO and DMHD at the catalytic site was different from that in the reaction medium.     

Heterogeneization of a new Ru(II) homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst containing BINAP and the N-tridentate bpea ligand, through covalent attachment on amorphous AlPO4 support

Following a new methodology to obtain hybrid organic–inorganic solids, the homogeneous complex [Ru^II(bpea) {(S)(−)(BINAP)}Cl](BF₄), (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine and BINAP = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl) has been covalently immobilized on an AlPO₄ amorphous solid. It was tested in the successive liquid phase enantioselective hydrogenation of several prochiral substrates such us dimethyl itaconate, methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate and methyl 2-acetamidocinnamate, in CH₂Cl₂ as solvent, ([subs]/[cat] = 0.016/0.000352 = 45.4), hydrogen pressure 6.8 atm and 50–70 °C reaction temperatures. Results obtained indicate that the catalytic activity with a high enantioselectivity (99%) was maintained throughout 10 successive reactions. Furthermore, the immobilized catalyst was easily recovered when repeatedly used and handled for several days, under the same experimental conditions as those in a conventional heterogeneous supported Ru catalyst.     

Selective hydrogenation of soybean oil: XII. Trialkyl aluminum-copper stearate homogeneous catalysts

The reaction of copper stearate with triethylaluminum (TEAL) formed a soluble catalyst that promoted the selective hydrogenation of the linolenyl groups in soybean oil. This homogeneous catalyst was more active than copper-chromite. The activity was enhanced by the addition of silica, alumina or titania. Ethyl alcohol accelerated the hydrogenation when it was added in small amounts and retarded hydrogenation when increased amounts were added. More active and, in some cases, more selective catalysts were formed when TEAL was replaced by trialkylaluminum compounds containing longer chain length in the alkyl groups. Among other organometallics tested, diethylmagnesium and diisobutylaluminum ethoxide formed catalysts with activity comparable to heterogeneous catalysts (K_Le/K_Lo=2.8~5.2) was less than that obtained with copper-chromite (12~14), but greater than that of commercially used nickel catalysts (2). Isomerization, as measured by the percentage oftrans isomers formed, was similar to that of heterogeneous copper catalysts (%trans/ΔIV=0.6~0.7). Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans, May 1981.     

Die großtechnische Oxosynthese mit immobilisiertem Katalysator

Industrial Oxo Synthesis with Immobilised Catalyst. The use of water-soluble catalysts represents a significant advance in homogeneous catalysis; “immobilisation” of the catalyst in a second immiscible liquid phase has the effect of “heterogenisation” and allows the advantages of heterogeneous processing (long lifetimes, straightforward technology) to the combined with those of the homogeneous mode (gentle reaction conditions, high activity and selectivity). In particular, the decisive advantage of homogeneous catalysts, viz. the wide range of variation of their steric and electronic properties which can be adapted to the specific reaction at hand, can be exploited for tailoring highly effective catalysts. Moreover, the mode of action of these homogeneous catalysts remains understandable as a model and under the reaction conditions chosen – in complete contrast to the case of many heterogeneous catalytic systems. The first successful industrial application of water-soluble catalysts was in the oxo process of Ruhrchemie/Rhǒne Poulenc. The following article reports on ten years' experience with this process and the HRh(CO)[P(msulphophenyl-Na)₃]₃ catalyst.     

Bimodal polyethylene promoted by novel nickel complex

A novel nickel complex, bis[2‐methyl‐2,4‐bis(2′‐pyridyl)‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine]nickel dichloride, displayed good activity for oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene with the assistance of a co‐catalyst, methylaluminoxane (MAO). The oligomers were mainly olefins from C₄ to C₁₀, while the highly branched polyethylene (PE) had molecular weights (M_w) in the range 19 000–34 000. Bimodal distributions of the PE were clearly observed by both DSC and GPC measurements, while the spherulitic structure of the PE was shown in the morphology. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient Solvent-Free Synthesis of Sucrose Esters via Sand-Milling Pretreatment on Solid–Liquid Mixtures

A general and efficient method, involving sand-milling pretreatment and base-catalyzed transesterification of sucrose and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), was presented for the solvent-free synthesis of sucrose esters. A metastable homogeneous paste with a solid particle size of 13 μm (D₅₀) was obtained by milling at 1000 rpm for 1 h. This reaction mixture generated a total SE yield of 88.2% with a methyl stearate (MS) conversion of 91.4% using K₂CO₃ as a catalyst at 135 °C for 3 h at a stirring rate of 500 rpm, while those without milling (D₅₀, 153 μm) yielded a total sucrose fatty acid esters (SE) of 49.3% with a MS conversion of 83.1% under the same reaction conditions. The reaction kinetics revealed that the reaction mixture with milling pretreatment displays a shorter induction time and a faster reaction rate for the formation of SE. The promotion of the solvent-free synthesis of SE in the current study could be attributed to the reduction of solid particle sizes and the increased compatibility of solid–liquid phases. We believe that this strategy could be used as a general way for strengthening other heterogeneous reactions in the organic synthesis.     

Catalytic activity and control of the nascent morphology of polyethylenes obtained with first and second generation of Ziegler–Natta catalysts

The morphologies of the as-produced polyethylenes obtained by slurry polymerization process of ethylene in n-heptane, using heterogeneous conventional and supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts, were investigated. The ability of four different catalytic systems in controlling the size and shape of the nascent polymer particles were tested. The catalytic systems employed were: the original Ziegler type catalyst produced by reduction of TiCl₄ with Et₂AlCl, the Natta type catalyst TiCl₃–AA, the reduced TiCl₄ with the metal carbonyls [Mo(CO)₆ and Mn₂(CO)₁₀], and the supported TiCl₄ on three commercial silicas having different surface areas: Davison 951, 952, and also the Dart 1000. It was found that the carriers affect the catalytic activity of the final catalyst and also its kinetic behavior. The supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts control more easily the nascent polymer particles (size, shape, and porosity) than the conventional ones. In addition the morphology of the catalysts and the subsequent polymer particles are closely related to the parent morphology of the silicas used as carriers. Furthermore, the nascent morphology of the polyethylenes obtained with the conventional TiCl₄–Et₂AlCl catalytic system can be modified by using different |Al|/|Ti| ratios, resulting in more dense, spherical, and bigger polymer particles by increasing this ratio. On the other hand, detailed studies on the texture or arrangement of the polymer particles reveal the existence of mainly two fine morphologies (globular and wormlike), which are the result of the order of the primary or elementary catalyst particles (microspheres and platelets), the force linking them together, and the activity of the polymerization centers placed on their surface.     

A novel low-temperature methanol synthesis method from CO/H2/CO2 based on the synergistic effect between solid catalyst and homogeneous catalyst

The activity of a binary catalyst in alcoholic solvents for methanol synthesis from CO/H₂/CO₂ at low temperature was investigated in a concurrent synthesis course. Experiment results showed that the combination of homogeneous potassium formate catalyst and solid copper–magnesia catalyst enhanced the conversion of CO₂-containing syngas to methanol at temperature of 423–443 K and pressure of 3–5 MPa. Under a contact time of 100 g h/mol, the maximum conversion of total carbon approached the reaction equilibrium and the selectivity of methanol was 99%. A reaction pathway involving esterification and hydrogenolysis of esters was postulated based on the integrative and separate activity tests, along with the structural characterization of the catalysts. Both potassium formate for the esterification as well as Cu/MgO for the hydrogenolysis were found to be crucial to this homogeneous and heterogeneous synergistically catalytic system. CO and H₂ were involved in the recycling of potassium formate.