An unusual high catalytic activity (TOF = 117,000 h -1 ) and high catalyst productivity (TON = 9,700) have been achieved in the first example of partial hydrogenation of renewable polyunsaturated crude methyl esters of linseed and sunflower oils catalyzed by water soluble Rh/TPPTS complexes [TPPTS = P(C 6 H 4 -m-SO 3 Na) 3 ] in aqueous/organic two-phase systems to afford monounsaturated fatty esters which is biodiesel first generation of improved oxidative stability, energy and environmental performance at a low pour point. This exceptionally high catalytic activity contrast with the general perception that industrially applied water soluble Rh/TPPTS catalysts normally exhibit very low rates in the conversions of higher molecular weight starting materials in aqueous/organic twophase systems.