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.