Homogeneously catalysed hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty alcohols

The use of copper and cadmium oxides or soaps as catalysts for the hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty alcohols has been investigated. It is shown that copper soaps homogeneously activate hydrogen. When copper and cadmium oxides are used as catalysts, they react with the acid under formation of a homogeneous soap solution. A continuous reaction system for the preparation of unsaturated fatty alcohols by hydrogenation under the influence of copper and cadmium soaps is described.     

Two-step homogeneous conjugation and hydrogenation of methyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids

A new approach to the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids is suggested. It consists of a two step process. The first is a selective conjugation of the double bonds, while the second consists of the hydrogenation reaction using a catalyst which is specific to conjugated systems. Potassiumt-butoxide was used as a conjugation catalyst and its activity and selectivity were tested at various concentrations, different molar ratios of catalyst to oil, and in various solvents. Phenanthrene chromium tricarbonyl was used as the hydrogenation catalyst and its activity tested at various concentrations, temperatures and in various solvents. UN Expert, Physical Organic Chemist.     

Protection of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids against microbial hydrogenation in ruminants

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are normally hydrogenated by microorganisms in the rumen. Because of this hydrogenation ruminant triglycerides contain very low proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids. A new process is described whereby polyunsaturated oil droplets are protected from ruminal hydrogenation by encapsulation with formaldehyde-treated protein. The formaldehyde-treated protein resists breakdown in the rumen thereby protecting the fatty acids against microbial hydrogenation. When these protected oils are fed to ruminants the formaldehydeprotein complex is hydrolyzed in the acidic conditions of the abomasum and the fatty acids are absorbed from the small intestine. This results in substantial changes in the triglycerides of plasma, milk and depot fats, in which the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids is increased from 2–5% to 20–30%. These effects are observed in the plasma and milk within 24–48 hr of feeding while a longer period is necessary to alter the composition of sheep depot fat. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to human and ruminant nutrition.     

由直链不饱和脂肪酸异构制备支链脂肪酸的研究进展

介绍了直链不饱和脂肪酸制备支链脂肪酸的研究现状,综述了脂肪酸异构机理,异构催化剂如白土催化剂、沸石催化剂,催化剂的筛选原则,着重讨论了各种常用沸石对于脂肪酸异构反应不同的影响以及现有的合成工艺。分析了脂肪酸的分离技术,包括精馏分离法、溶剂结晶法、尿素包结法、超临界流体萃取法的优缺点,指出沸石催化生产支链饱和脂肪酸的关键问题是需要解决混合脂肪酸作为原料反应的选择性问题,其相关的基础性工作,如更明确的反应机理和催化剂结构参数对反应的影响,仍是将来的研究方向。     

Hydroformylation of unsaturated fatty acids

When hydroformylation of unsaturated fatty materials is done with rhodium-triphenyl phosphine (or phosphite) catalysts, a number of advantages become apparent compared to cobalt carbonyl-catalyzed reactions. With rhodium, the reaction can be carried out (a) at pressures as low as 200 psi, (b) at each double bond location in a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and (c) in high yield and conversion. Solubilized catalyst can be recovered from distillation residue and readsorbed on spent catalyst support by thermal treatment in a rotary kiln. The reconstituted catalyst is more active than the original catalyst and can be recycled indefinitely at a relatively low cost. Recently developed supports for “homogeneous” catalysis may make catalyst recovery even more effective. Acetalation, oxidation with air to polycarboxylic acids and catalytic hydrogenation to hydroxymethyl compounds can be done easily and in high yield on mono-, di- and triformyl derivatives alike. Other reactions investigated for monoformyl fatty esters include reductive amination to form aminomethyl derivatives and Tollen’s condensation with formaldehyde to form geminal,bis-hydroxymethyl compounds. although the Northern Center has carried out some basic investigations on the hydroformylation reaction and on the chemistry of the hydroformylated products, there is a great deal more that can be done with regard to synthesis of new compounds and development of new applications.     

Polymerization of unsaturated fatty acids

Summary A method is proposed for the preparation of polybasic fat acids or “dimer” acids directly from fatty acids which is readily adaptable to commercial use. The presence of moisture maintained in the reaction vessel by steam pressure substantially prevents decomposition and decarboxylation of the fatty acids. By this method a larger percentage of dibasic acids, as compared to tribasic acids, is produced than by the previously described methods. The method of high temperature polymerization of fatty acids in the presence of moisture is also used to remove polyunsaturated fatty acids from commercial oleic acid. Presented at 20th fall meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society, Chicago, Ill., Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 1946.     

Characterization of unsaturated fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography

The equivalent chain length (ECL) has been determined on 79 methyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids and on 7 ethyl esters by gas chromatography. Ethylene glycol succinate (EGS), diethylene glycol succinate, β-cyclodextrin acetate and Apiezon L were chosen as the liquid phases to be used. For methyl esters of mono- and polyenoic acids, the differences between ECL on EGS and ECL on Apiezon L approximate 0.84 per double bond. For positional isomers, the ECL on both EGS and Apiezon L are usually greater for the isomer having the longer proximal end of the molecule (smallest ω value). In these terms a triple bond is approximately equal to three double bonds. Esters of nonconjugated dienoic and trienoic acids of the same chain length are not separable on Apiezon L if their proximal structures are the same. This also applies to tetraenoic and pentaenoic acids of the same chain length and the same proximal structure. Conjugation of double bonds, either with the ester carbonyl group or with themselves, yields ECL values on Apiezon L greater than the number of carbon atoms in the acid. Monounsaturated and nonconjugated polyunsaturated esters have ECL values on Apiezon L lower than the number of carbon atoms of the acid. The ECL values of ethyl esters of 18 and 20 carbon acids are greater than the corresponding methyl esters on Apiezon L. Presented at the Chicago meeting of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, Oct. 13, 1964.     

Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in rat liver microsomes

A study was made of the influence of semisynthetic diets of low and high unsaturation on the fatty acid composition and desaturation-chain elongation enzymatic activity of the liver microsomal fractions of male Sprague-Dawley rats of different ages. Groups of rats were fed 5 or 20% coconut oil (CO), or a 5 or 20% mixture of corn and menhaden oils (3∶7) (CME) from weaning to 100 wk of age. Growth rate and food consumption were measured during this period in which animals were sacrificed at 36, 57, 77 and 100 wk of age. Both the level and composition of the dietary fat supplements produced marked effects on the fatty acid composition of the liver microsomal lipids. In general, the fatty acid composition of the microsomal fractions reflected that of the dietary fat and was more unsaturated with the higher level of fat fed. The rate of conversion of linoleic to arachidonic acid in assays performed in vitro with liver microsomal preparations from animals of the different groups also showed marked differences. The 6-desaturase-chain elongation activity was higher in the 5% than 20% group and corresponded to the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of the animals in these groups as represented by the triene-tetraene ratio of the microsomal lipid. The relationship of the 6-desaturase activity to fatty acid composition of the microsomal lipid indicated that if varied directly with the level of 20∶3ω9, 18∶1 and 16∶1 and was inhibited by arachidonic acid. The activity of the 6-desaturase enzyme system was lowest in the liver microsomal fraction obtained from the animals fed the CME diets and appeared to be suppressed by the high levels of 20∶5 and 22∶6 that accumulated in the microsomal lipid. Accordingly, the levels of arachidonic acid were lower in the microsomal lipid of these groups than those of the corresponding CO groups in spite of a greater abundance of linoleic acid in the diet. The data suggest that the activity of the 6-desaturase-chain elongation system is regulated by the fatty acid composition of the microsomal lipid as influenced by the composition of the dietary fat.     

Stereospecific hydration of unsaturated fatty acids by bacteria

Three new 10-hydroxy fatty acids, all optically active, have been prepared by the anaerobic microbiological hydration of acis-9 double bond. Substrates that formed these new hydroxy fatty acids are linoleic, linolenic, and ricinoleic acids. The hydroxyl group has the D configuration and the methyl esters are levorotatory. Infrared, mass spectral, specific rotation and ultraviolet data on these compounds were determined. There was no migration of the unreated double bonds at C₁₂ and C₁₅ in linoleic or linolenic acids. The presence of a double bond in the 10-hydroxy fatty acids significantly increased the optical rotation of the methyl esters. The hydratase enzyme showed unusual specificity among Δ⁹ unsaturated acids. While it hydrates methylene interrupted and hydroxy unsaturated acids, it failed to hydrate either 9-decenoic, 12,13-epoxy- or 12-keto-cis-9-octadecenoic acids or sterculic acid. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969. No. Marketing and Nutrition Res. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Oxidative decarboxylation of unsaturated fatty acids

Long‐chain internal olefins were prepared by silver(II)‐catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation of unsaturated fatty acids by sodium peroxydisulfate. Similar to saturated carboxylic acids, 1‐alkenes were the major decarboxylation product in the additional presence of copper(II), whereas in the absence of copper(II) alkanes were predominantly formed. In both cases, the internal unsaturation of the fatty acids remained largely intact, although the moderate yields indicated that side reactions occurred to a significant extent. The simple procedure makes this multistep one‐pot reaction useful for the synthesis of a variety of internally unsaturated hydrocarbons. The purified products, almost all of which are prepared for the first time, may serve as reference compounds for studies on the heterogeneously catalyzed decarboxylation of triglycerides and fatty acids in the absence of hydrogen. Practical applications: The products of the chemistry described in this contribution, i.e., unsaturated long‐chain hydrocarbons, provide bio‐based building blocks for further chemical modification toward products which may be applied as (bio)fuels, lubricants, solvents, and polymeric materials.     

Conversion of unsaturated fatty acids – cycloadditions with unsaturated fatty acids [1]

Diels-Alder reactions with methyl conjuenate ( 2 ) at room temperature, with methyl E-12-oxo-10-octadecenoate ( 11 ) as dienophile and radical cation catalyzed cycloadditions of 2 are described. 2 is prepared from methyl linoleate by base catalyzed isomerization with sodium dimethylsulfoxide in 90% yield. It undergoes readily Diels-Alder reactions at room temperature in the presence of 1–1.8 equivalents of a Lewis acid and catalytic amounts of iodine to form cycloadducts in 55–90% yield. At 140°C 2 reacts with dimethyl maleate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to cycloadducts in 86% and 73% yield, respectively. Methyl E-12-oxo-10-octadecenoate ( 11 ) can be combined in a Diels-Alder reaction with the dienes 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadiene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene in 69% and 86% yield, respectively. By way of radical cation catalysis 2 undergoes [4+2]-cycloadditions with dienes in high yield.     

Trans unsaturated fatty acids in bacteria

The occurrence oftrans unsaturated fatty acids as by-products of fatty acid transformations carried out by the obligate anaerobic ruminal microflora has been well known for a long time. In recent years, fatty acids withtrans configurations also have been detected in the membrane lipids of various aerobic bacteria. Besides several psychrophilic organisms, bacteria-degrading pollutants, such asPseudomonas putida, are able to synthesize these compoundsde novo. In contrast to thetrans fatty acids formed by rumen bacteria, the membrane constituents of aerobic bacteria are synthesized by a direct isomerization of the complementarycis configuration of the double bond without a shift of the position. This system of isomerization is located in the cytoplasmic membrane. The conversion ofcis unsaturated fatty acids totrans changes the membrane fluidity in response to environmental stimuli, particularly where growth is inhibited due to the presence of high concentrations of toxic substances. Under these conditions, lipid synthesis also stops so that the cells are not able to modify their membrane fluidity by any other mechanism.     

Metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids in the intestine

Rats fed a fat-free diet from weaning were contined on that diet alone or supplemented with methyl linoleate, methyl linoleate plus a mixture of antibiotics, or methyl arachidonate. Dietary linoleate and arachidonate reduced the concentration of octadecenoic acid and increased that of stearic acid in the mucosa and luminal lipids. This effect was prevented in the mucosa but not in the intestinal contents by antibiotic supplementation of the linoleate diet. Evidence for the conversion of linoleic into eicosatetraenoic acid was found in both mucosa and luminal lipids. The conversion was impaired by the addition of antibiotics to the diet. Linoleate feeding combined with antibiotic addition provided evidence for the intestinal hydrogenation of dietary linoleic into either octadecenoic or stearic acids by separate routes, the latter being impaired by antibiotic ingestion. The ingestion of methyl linoleate or arachidonate modified only slightly the fecal fatty acid pattern of rats previously on a fat-free diet.     

Liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids

Liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of oleic acid with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of various transition metal/metal oxide catalysts was studied in a batch autoclave reactor. Azelaic and pelargonic acids are the major reaction products. Tungsten and tantalum and their oxides in supported and unsupported forms were used as catalysts. Alumina pellets and Kieselguhr powder were used as supports for the catalysts. Tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, zirconium, and niobium were also examined as catalysts. Tertiary butanol was used as solvent. Experimental results concluded that tungsten and tungstic oxide are more suitable catalysts in terms of their activity and selectivity. The rate of reaction observed in the case of supported catalysts appears to be comparable or superior to that of unsupported catalysts. In pure form, tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum showed strong catalytic activity in the oxidation reaction; however, except for tantalum the other two were determined to be economically unfeasible. Zirconium and niobium showed very little catalytic activity. Based on the experimental observations, tungstic oxide supported on silica is the most suitable catalyst for the oxidation of oleic acid with 85% of the starting oleic acid converted to the oxidation products in 60 min of reaction with high selectivity for azelaic acid.     

Double bond oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids

Different oxidizing agents for performing the cleavage oxidation of the double bond of the unsaturated fatty acids are presented, and their economic performance is analyzed. Ozone and sodium hypochlorite are the most commercially efficient oxidants. Laboratory work for the oxidation of oleic acid to azelaic and pelargonic acids using hypochlorite as oxidant is described. The advantages of working in an emulsion system and using RuCl₃ as a catalyst are discussed, and a possible mechanism of the reaction is presented. A flow sheet for an industrial process based on this concept is proposed. A simulation of a plant using this technology is made by a computerized model, and the economic parameters obtained permit us to conclude that the sodium hypochlorite can be an interesting reagent for industrial oxidations of double bonds in fatty acids.     

Reaction of oxygen and unsaturated fatty acids

Oxygen reacts readily with unsaturated fatty acids so that every time these compounds are handled there is a danger they will become contaminated with oxidation products. The products formed first are allylic hydroperoxides which are labile molecules that change rapidly to other compounds, some of which are highly flavorous. Sometimes these changes are desirable and may be promoted: frequently they are not and have to be inhibited. Instrumental procedures recently introduced—especially separation by high performance liquid chromatography and identification by¹H and¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy—have led to a renewed interest in this subject. For the nonenzymic processes of autoxidation and photooxygenation we now have a better understanding of the routes leading to the first-formed allylic hydroperoxides and an improved appreciation of the structure of further oxidation products including dihydroperoxides and hydroperoxides which also contain one or more cyclic peroxide units. Direct chemical routes to several of these compounds have also been developed. Oxidation of linoleic acid by plant-derived lipoxygenases gives diene hydroperoxides similar to those produced by autoxidation, except that the former are optically active and the latter racemic. Enzymic oxidation of arachidonic acid and certain related C₂₀ acids in animal systems produces a wide variety of prostaglandins, physiological properties. These compounds have been described as “tomorrow’s drugs”.     

The rates of oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and esters

The rates of autoxidation of oleic acid, ethyl oleate, linoleic acid, 10,12-linoleic acid, ethyl linoleate, trilinolein, pentaerythritol linoleate, dipentaerythritol linoleate, elaidolinolenic acid, linolenic acid, ethyl linolenate, trilinolenin, and methyl arachidonate have been studied by oxygen uptake in a Warburg respirometer and the results are compared with the rates of enzymatic oxidation of lipoxidase substrates. The increase in the number of double bonds in a fatty acid by one increases the rate of oxidation of the fatty acid or its esters by at least a factor or two. Earlier findings that acids oxidize more rapidly than their esters have been confirmed. The initial rates of lipoxidase oxidation of ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, and methyl arachidonate were found to be essentially the same.     

Separation of saturated/unsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acid mixtures can be separated into one fraction rich in saturated fatty acids and the other rich in unsaturated acids. Since saturated fatty acids have a higher melting point than unsaturated, liquid mixture to be fractionated is cooled to a temperature at which the larger part of the saturated acids crystallize, while the greater part of unsaturated acids remain in liquid form. Different industrial methods to separate the two phases are described. The oldest and simplest method is slowly to cool and crystallize the mixture in shallow pans to form cakes which then are pressed in presses of different design. By applying high pressure, the liquid olein is thus squeezed out from the cake, leaving the stearin fraction behind. A new process to separate the phases is to mix an aqueous solution, containing a wetting agent, with the crystallized fatty acid mixture. The stearin crystals are thus wetted and transferred into the aqueous phase, which then can be separated from the olein phase in a centrifuge. The stearin/aqueous suspension is heated to melt the stearin, which can then be separated in a second centrifuge. Other methods to improve phase separation use organic solvents, among which are methanol, acetone, methyl formate and propane. In the solvent fraction process, the miscella has to be cooled to a lower temperature than in the aforementioned methods, due to the solubility effect of the solvents. The solvents are removed by distillation from the fraction. Typical operation results with different types of raw materials are given. The advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are discussed.