Homogeneous Selective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Soybean Oil

Chelates derived from the Schiff bases of the 2,2‐dialkyl propylene‐1,3‐diamine with salicylaldehyde have been used as homogeneous catalysts in the hydrogenation of soybean oil. Copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, palladium chelates were tested and different catalytic trends observed. The most active catalysts were the copper chelates. A marked reduction of trienes to give mostly monoenes accompanied by no marked increase of conjugated dienes or trans double bonds was observed in some of the hydrogenation experiments. Selectivity values have been calculated; the iron catalysts showed the highest selectivity values but their catalytic activities were usually lower than that of the copper chelates.