2004•Journal of the American Chemical SocietyOpen access
Ethylene Tetramerization: A New Route to Produce 1-Octene in Exceptionally High Selectivities
Annette Bollmann, Kevin Blann, John Thomas Dixon, F.M. Hess, Esna Killian, Hulisani Maumela, David S. McGuinness, David H. Morgan, Arno Neveling, Stefanus Otto, Matthew J. Overett, Alexandra M. Z. Slawin, Peter Wasserscheid, Sven Kuhlmann
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Abstract
Linear alpha-olefins, such as 1-hexene and 1-octene, are important comonomers in the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The conventional method of producing 1-hexene and 1-octene is by oligomerization of ethylene, which yields a wide spectrum of linear alpha-olefins (LAOs). While there exists several processes for producing 1-hexene via ethylene trimerization, a similar route for the selective production of 1-octene has so far been elusive. We now, for the first time, report an unprecedented ethylene tetramerization reaction that produces 1-octene in selectivities exceeding 70%, using an aluminoxane-activated chromium/((R2)2P)2NR1 catalyst system.