ARS | Publication request: METATHESIS OF METHYL SOYATE WITH RUTHENIUM CATALYSTS

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 10, 2005
Publication Date: May 1, 2005
Citation: Holser, R.A., Doll, K.M., Erhan, S.Z. 2005. Metathesis of methyl soyate with ruthenium catalysts [abstract]. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 56.

Technical Abstract: Three Ruthenium catalysts were investigated for the metathesis reaction of methyl soyate. Dichlorotris (triphenylphosphine) ruthenium II and bis (tricyclohexyl phosphine) benzylidine ruthenium (IV) dichloride displayed no reactivity at 40 deg C and atmospheric pressure. However, ruthenium [1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene] dichloro (phenylmethylene) tricyclohexylphosphine, Grubbs second generation catalyst, exhibited high activity at these mild conditions. After two hours 46% of the unsaturated methyl esters in a commercial methyl soyate were metathesized. This suggests a method to modify the structure of methyl soyate to improve diesel fuel performance properties.