Heterogeneously Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Squalene to Squalane under Mild Conditions

The full chemoselective hydrogenation of highly unsaturated all-trans linear squalene into valuable fully saturated squalane is achieved smoothly under mild conditions over the sol-gel-entrapped Pd catalyst SiliaCat Pd0. The catalysis is truly heterogeneous, and the catalyst is stable and recyclable, which opens the route to an easier and less expensive hydrogenation of squalene.