Oligomerization of 1-hexene with bimetallic catalysts based on titanium or zirconium derivatives and organoaluminum compounds

Abstract

The oligomerization of 1-hexene at 20° C in the presence of various bimetallic systems obtained by reaction of titanium (IV) and zirconium (IV) derivatives with organoaluminum compounds has been studied. The transition metal, the nature of its substituents, and that of those attached to aluminum, strongly affect the catalytic activity. Oligomerization only proceeds with systems which contain Ti or Zr reduced forms. Two series of low molecular weight oligomers are formed, C6n and C6n+2. Each is composed of both saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon homologues. The large amount of saturated products after hydrolysis shows that aluminum metal alkyls are either involved in the propagation or are very efficient transfer agents.