Isomerization during hydrogenation. I. Oleic acid

The isomerization that takes place during the catalytic hydrogenation of linoleic acid and methyl linoleate producescis andtrans 9, 10, 11, and 12 monoenes. The double bond at the 12 position appears to hydrogenate slightly faster than that in the 9 position. More octadecenoic acids with double bonds at the 10 or 11 positions are produced during a selective (high temperature, low pressure) hydrogenation than during a non-selective process.