Disclosed is the use of a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the isomerization of an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride. Also disclosed is the use of a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the decarboxylation of an unsaturated organic compound. Also disclosed is the use of a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the dual function isomerization and decarboxylation of an unsaturated fatty acid to an unsaturated organic compound.

Disclosed is the use of a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the isomerization of an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride. Also disclosed is the use of a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the decarboxylation of an unsaturated organic compound. Also disclosed is the use of a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the dual function isomerization and decarboxylation of an unsaturated fatty acid to an unsaturated organic compound.

Disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the isomerization of an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride. Also disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the decarboxylation of an unsaturated organic compound. Also disclosed is a method for using a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the dual function isomerization and decarboxylation of an unsaturated fatty acid to an unsaturated organic compound.

Disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the isomerization of an unsaturated fatty acid, unsaturated fatty acid derivative, or an unsaturated triglyceride. Also disclosed is a method for using a metal catalyst or catalyst precursor that catalyzes the decarboxylation of an unsaturated organic compound. Also disclosed is a method for using a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the dual function isomerization and decarboxylation of an unsaturated fatty acid to an unsaturated organic compound.

The invention is directed to CLA-rich vegetable oil production from linoleic rich oils by heterogeneous catalysis. The process produces conjugated PUFA in triglyceride form, preferably at least 20% CLA-rich, by isomerization of a non-conjugated PUFA in vegetable oils using a heterogeneous transition metal catalyst promoted by an organic acid and/or thiol-containing compound. The heterogeneous catalysis isomerization process can use steam/vacuum distillation, hydrogenation unit and/or deodorization to produce CLA-rich soy oil. After processing, any catalyst residue may be removed by filtration, beaching, deodorizing, adsorbents or centrifugation to obtain high quality, CLA-rich oils.

The invention is directed to CLA-rich vegetable oil production from linoleic rich oils by heterogeneous catalysis. The process produces conjugated PUFA in triglyceride form, preferably at least 20% CLA-rich, by isomerization of a non-conjugated PUFA in vegetable oils using a heterogeneous transition metal catalyst promoted by an organic acid and/or thiol-containing compound. The heterogeneous catalysis isomerization process can use steam/vacuum distillation, hydrogenation unit and/or deodorization to produce CLA-rich soy oil. After processing, any catalyst residue may be removed by filtration, beaching, deodorizing, adsorbents or centrifugation to obtain high quality, CLA-rich oils.

This invention relates to the development of processes for the preparation of functionalized castor oil derivatives namely ring-opened glyceryl ricinoleates, epoxy alkyl ricinoleates and ring-opened alkyl ricinoleates with tailorable properties from epoxidized castor oil as raw material using heterogeneous acid and base catalysts. More particularly, the invention employs two reaction chemistries namely ring-opening and transesterification using Amberlyst 15 as solid acid catalyst for the former and oxides derived from CaAl layered double hydroxide (CaAl-LDH) as solid base catalyst for the latter and combinations thereof. Furthermore, both the catalysts are reusable and the products are easily separable after the reaction by simple physical processes.

Methods of carrying out metathesis reactions of natural oil-derived polyenes (e.g., dienes and trienes), including functionalized polyenes, are generally disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the dienes or trienes contain a terminal carbon-carbon double bond, and the metathesis reaction is selective toward reaction of the terminal carbon-carbon double bonds in the polyene. Compounds made by such methods are also generally disclosed herein.