An Unprecedented α-Olefin Distribution Arising from a Homogeneous Ethylene Oligomerization Catalyst

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 128; no. 24; pp. 7704 - 7705
• Main Authors: Tomov, Atanas K, Chirinos, Juan J, Long, Richard J, Gibson, Vernon C, Elsegood, Mark R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 21.06.2006; Amer Chemical Soc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physical Sciences; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Science & Technology; NICKEL; LIGANDS; CHROMIUM; TRIAZACYCLOHEXANE COMPLEXES; TRIMERIZATION; Complex catalyst oligomerization; Molecular weight distribution; Ethylene; Organic ligand; Transition metal Complexes; Complex catalyst; Gas chromatography; Chromium Complexes; Acetylacetone; Complexes Mixed; Tertiary amine; Chloro complex; Kinetic parameter; Rate constant; Catalyst activity; Mass spectrometry; Tridentate ligand
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja0615369

Treatment of the bis(benzimidazolyl)amine chromium complex 2 with ethylene in the presence of MAO affords an exceptionally active oligomerization catalyst and an unprecedented distribution of 1-olefin products in which the C4 n series is much more abundant than the C4 n +2 series. Deuterium labeling studies are consistent with a metallacyclic chain growth mechanism in which the unusual product distribution arises from the interplay of two sites.