Synthesis, characterization, and highly selective ethylene dimerization to 1-butene of [O -NX]Ni(II) complexes

Abstract

A series of nickel(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Molecular structure analysis exhibits that a square planar geometry around nickel is adopted. Upon activation with MAO, these nickel(II) complexes are efficient in catalyzing the ethylene dimerization, providing 1-butene with an activity of up to 1.4×10 7 g/(mol·h·atm). The heteroatoms of the sidearm in the complexes were proved to have great impact on the activity and selectivity of 1-butene. © 2012 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai & WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.