Ethylene trimerization
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorFeng-Jung Wu
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Abstract
Ethylene is trimerized to form 1-hexene by using a catalyst comprising an aluminoxane and polydentate phosphine, arsine, and/or stibine coordination complex of a chromium salt. Catalysts, complexes, and ligands enabling production of 1-hexene in extremely high yields and purity are also described.
Claims14
A process for the trimerization of ethylene, said process comprising reacting ethylene, at a temperature of from about 35.degree. to 200.degree. C. and an ethylene pressure of from about atmospheric to 3000 psig, using a catalyst comprising an aluminoxane and at least about 0.001 mmole of a polydentate phosphine, arsine and/or stibine coordination complex of a chromium salt, wherein the mole ratio of aluminum to chromium in the catalyst is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 10,000:1;
- wherein said complex has the formula LCrX.sub.n, where L is a coordinating polydentate phosphine, arsine and/or stibine ligand, X represents anions which can be the same or different, and n is an integer of 2 to 4;
- and wherein said ligand has the formula ##STR7## where Z can be the same or different and is phosphorus, arsenic or antimony, R is a hydrocarbyl group, R.sup.1 is a dimethylene group and R.sup.2 is a linear polymethylene group having at least 3 carbon atoms such that 1-hexene is formed and the reaction product contains, if any, less than 2.0 wt % polyethylene by-product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.