Ethylene Trimerization Research Articles

Front Cover: Ethylene Dimerization, Isomerization and Trimerization: Mechanistic Insights into Competing Pathways on Metal–Organic Framework Supported Metal Hydrides (ChemCatChem 20/2024)

Front Cover: Ethylene Dimerization, Isomerization and Trimerization: Mechanistic Insights into Competing Pathways on Metal–Organic Framework Supported Metal Hydrides (ChemCatChem 20/2024)

Synthesis of Branched α-Olefins via Trimerization and Tetramerization of Ethylene.

α-Olefins are very important bulk and fine chemicals and their synthesis from ethylene, an abundantly available and inexpensive feedstock, is highly attractive. Unfortunately, the direct or on-purpose synthesis of olefins from ethylene is limited to three examples, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene, all having a linear structure. Herein, the direct synthesis of 3-methylenepentane and 4-ethylhex-1-ene, branched trimerization, and tetramerization products of ethylene, respectively, is reported. Different molecular titanium catalysts, all highly active, with a selectivity toward the formation of the branched ethylene trimer or tetramer, the employment of different activators, and different reaction conditions are the key to selective product formation. The long-time stability of selected catalysts employed permits upscaling as demonstrated for the synthesis of 4-ethylhex-1-ene (52g isolated, TON(ethylene) 10.7 · 106).

Multisite-assisted design of asymmetric silicon-bridged diphosphine ligands for selective ethylene tri-/tetramerization

A series of novel silicon-bridged asymmetric diphosphine ligands (PNSiP-type L1-L3 and PCSiP-type L4) and their corresponding Cr(Ⅲ) catalysts have been synthesized and evaluated for ethylene tri-/tetramerization. When DMAO/AlEt3 was used as a co-catalyst, catalyst 1 based on ligand L1, with a cyclopentyl group on the N atom and two methyl groups on the Si atom, showed the highest catalytic activity of 8.21 kg g-1 Cr/h with 90.45 % combined (60.53 % 1-C6= + 29.92 % 1-C8=) selectivity. Moreover, the catalytic system based on catalyst 1 achieved a remarkable selectivity for 1-C8= of 62.58 % at 15 °C, even though polymers were the main products. Catalyst 2 based on ligand L2, bearing a cyclopentyl group at N and one methyl and one phenyl group on the Si moiety, exhibited a catalytic activity of 8.09 kg g-1 Cr/h accompanied with 71.61 % 1-C6= and 14.12 % 1-C8=product selectivity. Catalyst 3 based on ligand L3 having an isopropyl group on the N atom and two methyl groups on the Si atom, displayed 6.95 kg g-1 Cr/h catalytic activity with 69.06 % 1-C6= and 17.88 % 1-C8=product selectivity. Catalyst 4 based on PCSiP-type ligand L4, showed poor catalytic activity and 79.15 % of high 1-C6= selectivity. Compared with the previously reported long-chain Cr(Ⅲ) catalysts based on silicon-bridged diphosphine ligands (PNSiCP-/PCSiCP-type), Cr(Ⅲ) catalysts based on short-chain PNSiP-type and PCSiP-type ligands designed in this work exhibited higher ethylene oligomerization performance. Among them, PNSiP-type ligands are more inclined to generate 1-C8= than PCSiP-type ligand, and reducing the steric bulk of substituents on the Si atom in PNSiP-type ligands is also beneficial for 1-C8= generation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also revealed that the PNSiP-type catalysts could exhibit excellent ethylene trimerization performance. The DFT calculations thus provide a theoretical foundation for a deeper understanding of the ethylene tri-/tetramerization mechanism and designing of new ligand structures.

Ethylene Dimerization, Isomerization and Trimerization: Mechanistic Insights into Competing Pathways on Metal–Organic Framework Supported Metal Hydrides

AbstractCatalytic ethylene oligomerization is important in the petrochemical industry, as it produces valuable products like linear alpha‐olefins (LAOs) for the synthesis of polymers and specialty chemicals. Catalysts, typically transition metal complexes or metal‐containing materials, play a crucial role in selective oligomerization by providing active sites for ethylene activation and controlling product distribution. Recently, defective metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with well‐defined structures and unsaturated active sites have emerged as potential catalysts for ethylene oligomerization. In this study, we employ density functional theory calculations to investigate the energetic selectivity of competing pathways (including dimerization, isomerization and trimerization) during ethylene oligomerization on defective HKUST‐1 supported metal hydrides (H−M–DHKUST‐1, M: Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Pd). On all the five hydrides, ethylene dimerization is found to be more preferential than trimerization and isomerization. In the microenvironment of defective paddlewheel of HKUST‐1, isomerization is highly unfavorable compared with dimerization because of high energy required for chain walk, and 1‐butene is expected to be the major product on all the five hydrides. Analysis of NBO charges reveals a notable reduction in cationic nature at the metal site on H−Ru–DHKUST‐1, which facilitates β‐hydride elimination for dimerization. The microscopic insights from this computational study might facilitate the rational design of new MOFs and other MOF‐supported catalysts for selective ethylene oligomerization.

Kinetic model for selective trimerization of ethylene to hexene-1 on chromium-pyrrole catalyst

Kinetic model for selective trimerization of ethylene to hexene-1 on chromium-pyrrole catalyst

Catalytic Synthesis of Butene-1 and Hexene-1 in the Homogeneous Oligomerization of Ethylene in the Presence of Nickel Complexes Based on N-Heteroaryl-Substituted α-Diphenylphosphinoglycines

It has been experimentally shown that N-heteroaryl-substituted α-diphenylphosphinoglycines N-(pyrazin-2-yl)-α-diphenylphosphinoglycine, N-(pyridin-2-yl)-α-diphenylphosphinoglycine and N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-α-diphenylphosphinoglycine obtained by the reaction of three-component condensation of diphenylphosphine, the corresponding primary amine and glyoxylic acid monohydrate are capable in combination with Ni(COD)₂, where COD is cyclooctadiene-1,5, to form active forms of catalysts for selective homogeneous dimerization and trimerization of ethylene with the formation of butene-1 and hexene-1 as the main products. It has been established that the obtained organo-nickel catalytic systems provide a yield of short-chain (C₄–C₆) olefins at the level of 90% with a selectivity for linear α-olefins of 97%. The study of the influence of temperature on the process of homogeneous ethylene oligomerization using the obtained compounds made it possible to establish that the optimal temperature for ethylene oligomerization, providing the highest selectivity to butene-1 and hexene-1, is 80–105°C at the optimum pressure of ethylene is 20–35 atm. Under these conditions, the selectivity for butenes is 71.4–72.6% (selectivity for butene-1 – 69.3–71.1%), for hexenes 20.6–21.2% (selectivity for hexene-1 – 19.2–19.5%), and the optimal duration of the oligomerization process at a temperature 105°C is 1.5 h, which provides the rate of formation of butene-1 equal to 168.1 golig gNi⁻¹h⁻¹) and the rate of formation of hexene-1 – 47.3 golig gNi⁻¹h⁻¹).

On-Purpose Oligomerization by 2-t-Butyl-4-arylimino-2,3-dihydroacridylnickel(II) Bromides

In this study, 2-t-butyl-4-arylimino-2,3-dihydroacridylnickel dibromides were synthesized by nickel-template one-pot condensation, and well characterized along with the single-crystal X-ray diffraction to one representative complex, revealing a distorted tetrahedral geometry around nickel. When activated with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all nickel complexes exhibited high activities (up to 1.91 × 106 g mol−1 (Ni) h−1) toward major trimerization of ethylene. When activated with ethylaluminum dichloride (EtAlCl2), however, the title complexes performed good activities (up to 1.05 × 106 g mol−1 (Ni) h−1) for selective dimerization of ethylene. In comparison to analogous nickel complexes, higher activities were achieved with the substituent of t-butyl group, especially in the rare case of nickel complexes performing trimerization of ethylene.

Ethylene trimerization using half‐sandwich titanium‐based catalysts supported on mesoporous silica modified with ionic liquids

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are produced industrially via ethylene oligomerization using catalytic methods. The cost‐effective separation process has sparked significant interest in the selective oligomerization of ethylene to produce alpha‐olefins, including 1‐hexene (1‐C6), in multi‐product commercial processes. In addition, the utilization of immobilized catalysts is crucial because of their reduced environmental impact, ease of catalyst separation, recyclability, and transportability. Furthermore, the use of immobilized catalysts simplifies the purification process, making it easier to isolate pure products. In the present study, mesoporous silica (MS) was first modified with ionic liquids (ILs) consisting BF4− and Br− counter‐anions to prepare IL‐BF4@MS and IL‐Br@MS, respectively. Then 12 catalysts were synthesized through immobilization of the half‐sandwich catalysts with different bridges on the surface of MS, IL‐Br@MS, and IL‐BF4@MS and characterized by BET, TGA, and SEM–EDX‐Mapping analyses. UV–Visible spectroscopy showed a tetrahedral structure for the synthesized complexes. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts for the production of 1‐hexene were studied under specific conditions, including an ethylene pressure of 8 bar, a temperature of 40 °C, and an Al/Ti ratio of 1:2000. The C1‐IL‐BF4@MS immobilized catalyst with cyclohexane middle bridge immobilized on MS modified with IL‐BF4 revealed the highest activity (1199 kg 1‐C6 molTi−1·h−1) at a catalyst concentration of 1.5 μmol. The lowest activity (138 kg 1‐C molTi−1·h−1) was obtained for both C3@MS and C4@MS catalysts.

Time-Domain Rotational Raman Spectroscopy of the Ethylene Dimer and Trimer by Coulomb Explosion Imaging of Rotational Wave Packets.

We report rotational Raman spectroscopy of the ethylene dimer and trimer, based on time-resolved Coulomb explosion imaging of rotational wave packets. Rotational wave packets were created in the gas-phase ethylene clusters upon nonresonant ultrashort pulse irradiation. The subsequent rotational dynamics were traced as spatial distribution of monomer ions ejected from the clusters via the Coulomb explosion process induced by a strong probe pulse. The observed images of monomer ions show multiple kinetic energy components. The time-dependence of the angular distribution for each component was analyzed, and the Fourier transformation spectra, which correspond to rotational spectra, were obtained. A lower kinetic energy component was mainly attributed to a signal from the dimer and a higher energy component mainly from the trimer. We have successfully observed rotational wave packets up to a delay time of ∼20 ns and achieved a spectral resolution of 70 MHz after Fourier transformation. Owing to this higher resolution than the previous studies, improved rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were obtained from the spectra. In addition to improving the spectroscopic constants, this study opens the way for rotational spectroscopy of larger molecular clusters than dimers through Coulomb explosion imaging of rotational wave packets. Details of spectral acquisition and analyses of each kinetic energy component are also reported.

A Density Functional Study on Ethylene Trimerization and Tetramerization Using Real Sasol Cr-PNP Catalysts.

To gain molecular-level insight into the intricate features of the catalytic behavior of chromium-diphosphine complexes regarding ethylene tri- and tetramerizations, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The selective formation of 1-hexene and 1-octene by the tri- and tetramerizations of ethylene are generally accepted to follow the metallacycle mechanism. To explore the mechanism of ethylene tri- and tetramerizations, we used a real Sasol chromium complex with a nitrogen-bridged diphosphine ligand with ortho- and para-methoxyaryl substituents. We explore the trimerization mechanism for ethylene first and, later on for comparison, we extend the potential energy surfaces (PES) for the tetramerization of ethylene with both catalysts. The calculated results reveal that the formation of 1-hexene and 1-octene with the ortho-methoxyaryl and para-methoxyaryl Cr-PNP catalysts have nearly similar potential energy surfaces (PES). From the calculated results important insights are gained into the tri- and tetramerizations. The tetramerization of ethylene with the para-methoxyaryl Cr-PNP catalyst lowers the barrier height by ~2.6 kcal/mol compared to that of ethylene with the ortho-methoxyaryl Cr-PNP catalyst. The selectivity toward trimerization or tetramerization comes from whether the energy barrier for ethylene insertion to metallacycloheptane is higher than β-hydride transfer to make 1-hexene. The metallacycle mechanism with Cr (I)-Cr (III) intermediates is found to be the most favored, with the oxidative coupling of the two coordinated ethylenes to form chromacyclopentane being the rate-determining step.

Highly efficient asymmetric (diphenylphosphino)benzene‐based chromium catalysts for selective ethylene trimerization

The corresponding Cr(III) catalysts (1–6) based on asymmetric (diphenylphosphino)benzene‐type L1–L6 ligands have been explored for ethylene selective trimerization. It is observed that the structure of the complexes has an obvious influence on their catalytic performance for ethylene selective oligomerization. All the 1–6 precatalysts may offer selective ethylene trimerization systems, and their catalytic performance is greatly influenced by the reaction conditions. The precatalyst 2, bearing diisopropylphosphanyl substituent, may exhibit the remarkably high catalytic activity of 9.83 × 107 g/(molCr·h) with 90.4% C6 selectivity under suitable conditions. Single crystal X‐ray analysis showed that the alkyl/alkylaminophosphanyl of the ligands may efficaciously tune the catalyst structure and thus influence the oligomerization activity and product selectivity.

α-Olefin Trimerization for Lubricant Base Oils with Modified Chevron–Phillips Ethylene Trimerization Catalysts

α-Olefin Trimerization for Lubricant Base Oils with Modified Chevron–Phillips Ethylene Trimerization Catalysts

Catalytic oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene with complexes of iron triad metals: influence of metal nature and new prospects

In the last five years the field of catalytic oligomerization and polymerization of olefins using complexes of late transition metals has been the most intensively developing area of post-metallocene catalysis. This review is devoted to detailed analysis of the influence of metal nature on the catalytic properties of systems based on complexes of iron triad metals. Some novel and developing areas of application of such complexes in olefin oligomerization and polymerization (ethylene trimerization, production of olefins with an odd number of carbon atoms and polyethylene waxes, targeted synthesis of heavy fractions of ethylene oligomers) are surveyed. Different approaches to the heterogenization of catalysts on various solid supports are considered.The bibliography includes 225 references.

Computational assessment and understanding of C6 product selectivity for chromium phosphinoamidine catalyzed ethylene trimerization

One approach to selectively generate 1-hexene is through ethylene trimerization using highly active Cr N-phosphinoamidine catalysts ((P,N)Cr). Depending on the ligand, (P,N)Cr catalysts can either generate nearly pure 1-hexene or form 1-hexene with significant mixtures of other C6 mass products, for example methylenecyclopentane. Here we report DFT transition-state modeling examining 1-hexene catalysis pathways as well as pathways that lead to alternative C6 mass products. This provided qualitative and semi-quantitative modeling of the experimental 1-hexene purity values for several (P,N)Cr catalysts. Consistent with previous computational studies, the key 1-hexene purity-determining transition states were determined to be β-hydrogen transfer structures from the metallacycloheptane intermediate. The origin of selectivity for these (P,N)Cr catalysts can be attributed to steric effects in the transition-state structure with coordinated ethylene that leads to C6 impurities.

Chromium catalysts based on PNP(NR2)2 ligands for selective ethylene oligomerization

High active and selective 1–3 chromium catalysts based on the corresponding Ph2PN(cyclopentyl)P (NR2)2‐type L1–L3 ligands (L1: R = methyl, L2: R = ethyl, L3: R = isopropyl) have been explored for selective ethylene tri‐/tetramerization. We found that the ligand substituents and the experimental conditions considerably influenced the catalytic performance of 1–3 based catalysts. Combining a higher ethylene pressure can elevate the selectivity of 1‐octene (67.98%) of precatalyst 1 with high catalytic activity (9.3 × 106 g/[molCr h]). Furthermore, precatalysts 2–3 efficiently offer selective ethylene trimerization and afforded 97.76% 1‐hexene selectivity with 5.8 × 106 g/(molCr h) catalytic activity (in case precatalyst 3). A relatively low catalyst mass, high Al/Cr molar ratio, and high ethylene pressure display excellent catalytic activity and selectivity for ethylene oligomerization.

Experimental and DFT study on titanium-based half-sandwich metallocene catalysts and their application for production of 1-hexene from ethylene

• The Ti metallocene catalysis guides selectively the trimerization from ethylene to 1-hexene. • Synthesis of [Ind-C(R)-Phenyl]TiCl 3 catalysts based on indenyl with various types of bridges (R) bearing an indenyl ring. • Selective catalysts for ethylene trimerization to 1-hexene using mild conditions. • Reaction mechanism and selectivity described by DFT calculations. • The highest catalytic activity with the catalyst with a cyclohexane middle bridge. Different types of [Ind-C(R)-Phenyl]TiCl 3 catalysts based on pendant arene containing indenyl (Ind) ligand bearing various types of bridges (R= cyclo ‐C 5 H 10 (C1), (CH 3 ) 2 (C2), 4- t Bu- cyclo ‐C 5 H 9 (C3), and cyclo ‐C 6 H 12 (C4)) have been synthesized, and used in the ethylene trimerization to 1-hexene in the presence of methyl aluminoxane (MAO) as co-catalyst. The reaction conditions were first optimized in C2 catalyst case, where the highest 1-hexene product was achieved at the catalyst concentration, temperature and ethylene pressure of 1.5 × 10 −3 M, 40 °C, and 8 bar, respectively. During this optimization and under specific reaction conditions, a switching behavior from ethylene trimerization to polymerization was also detected, as an undesired reaction. At the optimized conditions, synthesized catalysts showed the following trend toward both 1-hexene yield and selectivity: C1>C2>C3>C4. Then, to shed light on the possible reaction mechanisms and to confirm the activity trend obtained in experimental section, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed. In this line, obtained results for activity trend in the simulation studies fit well with the experiments. According to both experimental and DFT results, the highest catalytic activity was observed in the presence of the catalyst with a cyclohexane middle bridge (C1).

Ethylene Trimerization over Supported SNS and PNP

ABSTRACT Chromium(III) complexes with sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorus tridentate ligands were synthesized and characterized. These complexes were supported on SiO2 and characterized by BET surface area measurements, XRF, SEM-EDX and FTIR. The complexes were tested for activity and selectivity in the trimerization of ethylene. The substituent's effect and influence on the sulphur on the supported catalysts were studied using the ethyl and the decyl substituted catalysts. The influence of temperature on catalytic performance was evaluated using the PPP supported system. The most active supported catalyst, the decyl substituted SNS catalyst, showed good activity of up to 19 500 g/g Cr h-1 and selectivity of 97.3 % to C6 products (98.2 % 1-hexene). This activity and selectivity were comparable to the homogeneous counterpart's performance that achieved 22 000 g/g Cr h-1 and 98.2 % C6 products (96.7 % 1-hexene), which surpassed the ethyl substituted catalyst, which was not supported, under the same reaction conditions. The supported PPP catalyst activities showed it was sensitive to higher temperatures, but this depends on the supporting technique. Keywords: Ethylene trimerization, sulfanyl ligands, phosphine ligands, supported catalysts.

Why Less Coordination Provides Higher Reactivity Chromium Phosphinoamidine Ethylene Trimerization Catalysts

Cr phosphine catalysts are uniquely suited for industrial selective ethylene trimerization to 1-hexene. We recently introduced a Cr N-phosphinoamidine catalyst ((P,N)Cr) transition-state model for ...

Influence of ionic liquid counterions on activity and selectivity of ethylene trimerization using chromium‐based catalysts in biphasic media

In recent years ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted much interest because of their widespread use in various fields. Several trimerization and oligomerization catalysts have been evaluated in ILs with different organic–inorganic hybrid structures. High catalytic activity and selectivity, easy product separation, and recycling of the catalyst are the advantages of a biphasic catalyst system compared to the homogeneous catalysts. In this study, the influence of IL counter‐anions on activity and selectivity of the ethylene trimerization catalysts based on Cr‐SNS‐R was investigated. All synthesized materials were characterized using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy,1H NMR,13C NMR, UV–Vis. spectroscopy, thin‐layer chromatography, and elemental analysis (CHNS). In ethylene trimerization reaction, the dodecyl substituent in the SNS ligand exhibited better activity and selectivity than the butyl substituent. The results revealed that the presence of BF4−as a counter‐anion in the IL led to an increase in activity and selectivity compared to Br−and I−counter‐anions. It was found that the BF4−counter‐anion plays a conclusive role in the development of 1‐hexene activity and selectivity to a maximum amount of 71,132 g1‐C6/(gCr× h) and more than 99%, respectively. Finally, the catalyst was reused thrice without losing its 1‐hexene selectivity.

The Catalytic Transformation of Ethylene Using Chromium(III) Complexes with Bidentate Nitrogen-Containing Ligands

It has been shown that catalytic systems of the type Cr(III)/TEA/L, where Cr(III) is tris(2-ethylhexanoate)chromium(III) (Cr(EH)3), tris(acetylacetone)chromium(III) (Cr(acac)3); TEA is triethylaluminum; L is 2,2′-bipyridyne (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), N,N′-bis-(cyclohexyl)diazabutadiene-1,3 (DCy-DABD) and N,N′-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)diazabutadiene-1,3 (DPPh-DABD), can be employed for ethylene poly- and olygomerization at 60–80 °C and under pressure 2–3 MPa. The proton affinity of the used bidentate nitrogen-containing ligands is evaluated using quantum chemical calculations. The DCy-DABD, which has the lowest basicity, turns out to be the best ligand for the selective di- and trimerization of ethylene.