Alpha olefins from lower alkene oligomers

Abstract

Internally unsaturated near linear oligomers of lower olefins are converted into alpha olefins, or 1-alkenes, of essentially the same degree of linearity. The internally unsaturated olefins are the product of lower alkene oligomerization using a surface deactivated zeloite, such as ZSM-5 or ZSM-23, and contain about 1 to 2 methyl branches per twelve (12) carbon atoms. The feedstock is converted to alpha olefin oligomers which also contain approximately 1 to 2 methyl branches per thirteen (13) carbon atoms. The conversion is achieved by hydroformylation of the near linear internal olefins to provide a novel 1-alkanol oligomer structure without further branching of the carbon oligomeric chain. Acetylation of the 1-alkanol followed by deesterification by pyrolysis provides the sought for near linear 1-alkene. The near-linear oligomers of lower olefins so produced comprise vinyl hydrocarbon monomers that can be further oligomerized by cationic and coordination catalysts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.