SYNTHESIS OF HETEROGENEOUS OLEFIN-OLIGOMERIZATION CATALYSTS USING HOMOGENEOUS NICKEL-CHELATE COMPLEXES AS A BASIS

The synthesis and characterization of two nickel(II) catalyst precursors are described. The first is derived from cross-linking of the bis(glycidyl ether) of bis(1-p-hydroxyphenyl-1,3-butanedionato)nickel(II) with 1,2-diaminoethane and the second is obtained from polystyrene-supported chloro-2,4-pentanedithionatotriphenylphosphine-nickel(II). The compounds and their homogeneous precursors have been examined for their activity in catalysing the oligomerization of 1-hexene using triethylaluminium and ethylaluminiumdichloride as co-catalysts. Results obtained indicate that the polymeric complexes are active when AlEtCl2 is used as a co-catalyst, but not when AlEt3 is used. Furthermore, oligomerization is accompanied by isomerization, while a high selectivity for dimers is observed. Analysis of the complexes after catalytic runs reveals that some leaching of the nickel ions from the polymers has taken place. © 1990.