Linear α-olefins (LAOs) are valuable intermediates in a broad range of chemical industrial applications, such as co-monomers for polyethylene (C4-C8), alcohols and synthetic lubrticants (C10-C12), detergents (C12-C14), and oilfield chemicals (C16-C18). LAOs are currently produced via conventional full range chain growth technologies, such as SHOP and α-SABLIN, which result in a Schulz-Flory product distribution of a wide range of olefins starting from C4 up to C20+. Recently, the global demand on lower alpha olefins, such as 1-hexene and 1-octene, is increasing. A novel ethylene trimerization catalytic system consisting of chromium precursor, Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)H as a ligand and co-catalyst as the activator was developed. Basic organometallic aspects for this system like interaction of the ligand with the aluminum alkyl, ligand coordination at the chromium site and others were investigated with respect to the catalytic reaction. This includes the preparation of catalyst precursor species and of model complexes, their characterization via X-ray structure analysis and 1H-NMR/31P-NMR studies of intermediates and complexes involved under various conditions. In summary, this research results in a fundamentally better understanding of the behavior and characteristics of the catalytic system. The new system reported has an excellent performance, such as high selectivity to 1-hexene, high purity (+99%), and very low polymer formation.

Potential catalytic system for selective ethylene trimerization of ethylene shifting from full range to selectivity of 1-hexene

251st National Meeting (2016)

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