Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of lipids in aqueous dispersions and bacterial cell membranes with an efficient water-soluble Pd(II)-sulfosalan catalyst, Na2[Pd(HSS)]

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.catcom.2020.106153

The recently synthesized water-soluble Na₂[Pd(HSS)] (Na₂HSS = hydrogenated sulfonated salen) was shown to be a non-toxic, active catalyst for modification of model and biomembranes by homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation. Hydrogenation of the unsaturated fatty acyl residues in soy-bean lecithin liposomes and in biomembranes of intact Pseudomonas putida F1 cells was accompanied by substantial cis-trans isomerization around the C[dbnd]C double bonds. The hydrogenations could be run in aqueous media under mild conditions (25 °C, 1 bar H₂). Partial saturation (up to 10% conversion) of the membrane lipids of P. putida F1 did not damage the cells.