Kinetic aspects of stereoselectivity in hydrogenation of fatty acids

Kinetic peculiarities of stereoselectivity in hydrogenation of fatty acids are discussed. The reaction mechanism should be able to account for independence of the reaction rate on hydrogen pressure and conversion, stereoselectivity on conversion as well as an increase in cis/trans ratio with pressure increase. Various mechanisms advanced in the literature for formation of cis- and trans mono-unsaturated acids and their derivatives are considered, showing behavior contradicting with experiments. A reaction mechanism is proposed, which is consistent with experimental observations.