A broadly tunable synthesis of linear ?-olefins.

ABSTRACT: The catalytic synthesis of linear ?-olefins from ethylene is a technologically highly important reaction. A synthesis concept allowing the formation of selective products and various linear ?-olefin product distributions with one catalyst system is highly desirable. Here, we describe a trimetallic catalyst system (Y-Al-Ni) consisting of a rare earth metal polymerization catalyst which can mediate coordinative chain transfer to triethylaluminum combined with a simultaneously operating nickel ?-hydride elimination/transfer catalyst. This nickel catalyst displaces the grown alkyl chains forming linear ?-olefins and recycles the aluminum-based chain transfer agent. With one catalyst system, we can synthesize product spectra ranging from selective 1-butene formation to ?-olefin distributions centered at 850 gmol-1 with a low polydispersity. The key to this highly flexible linear ?-olefin synthesis is the easy tuning of the rates of the Y and Ni catalysis independently of each other. The reaction is substoichiometric or formally catalytic regarding the chain transfer agent.

SUBMITTER: Gollwitzer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5663737 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature