17 - Applications of the Olefin Metathesis Reaction

Abstract

Applications of the olefin metathesis reaction can be divided into three broad groups. Those in the field of synthetic organic chemistry give new routes to biologically active compounds. Those that have been developed for larger scale production, but are not currently in use. Finally, there are those that are currently in commercial use, with potential for expansion. This chapter provides a short summary of the application of olefin metathesis reaction in the field of synthetic organic chemistry and in commercial use with an excellent review of the economic and ecological aspects in applied olefin metathesis. The processes include the Phillips triolefin process, the neohexene process, and the shell higher olefins process. In the commercial manipulation of hydrocarbon feedstock, the metathesis reaction clearly provides a valuable unit process, which may be combined with other processes either in the same reactor using successive layers of the requisite catalysts, or in consecutive reactors. Other multistage processes involving metathesis are discussed.