Oligomerisation of olefinic compounds in the presence of an oligomerisation catalyst, and a catalyst activator including a halogenated organic group

A process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound in the form of an olefin or a compound having a carbon to carbon double bond, comprising contacting the at least one olefinic compound with the combination of an oligomerisation catalyst and a catalyst activator, which catalyst activator is a salt containing an anion which includes a moiety of the formula

• and wherein
• M is selected from the group consisting of a group 3A atom;
• n is 1 or a larger integer;
• and
• R is a halogenated organic group, R being the same or different when n is larger than 1;
• and
• wherein the oligomerisation catalyst comprises the combination of
• i) a source of a transition metal;
• and
• ii) a ligating compound of the formula
• (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n
• wherein
• X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of N, P, As, Sb, Bi, 0, S, and Se;
• Y is a linking group between X1 and X2;
• m and n are independently 0, 1 or a larger integer;
• and
• R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group or a heterohydrocarbyl group, and R1 being the same or different when m>1, and R2 being the same or different when n>1.