Removing acetylene from ethylene gas streams during polyethylene synthesis

A method of removing acetylene from an ethylene gas stream comprising

• contacting the gas stream with a catalyst such that the catalyst reacts with acetylene to polymerize the acetylene thereby forming an ethylene gas stream substantially free of acetylene;
• wherein
• the catalyst has a structure of
• each R1 is independently Ar1, C1-C22 alkyl, or (R3)3—Si—;
• each R2 is independently Ar1, C3-C22 alkyl, or (R3)3—Si—;
• M is W or Mo;
• Ar1 is aryl or heteroaryl which can be optionally substituted, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5-12 membered aromatic ring comprising from 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N, and S, and the optional substitutions are 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halo, C1-6 alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, and C1-6haloalkyl;
• each occurrence of R3 is independently C1-C22 alkyl, Ar1, —O—(C1-C22 alkyl), —O—Ar1, —N—(C1-C22)2 alkyl, or —N—Ar12;
• and
• L is absent or a neutral ligand.