Highly active chromium-based selective ethylene tri-/tetramerization catalysts supported by alkenylphosphanyl PNP ligands.

A series of novel diphosphinoamine (PNP) ligands bearing a P -alkenyl group were synthesized and applied in chromium-catalyzed selective ethylene tri-/tetramerization by in situ combination of Cr(acac) 3 and modified methylalumoxane (MMAO-3A). The ligand substitution and oligomerization conditions have a remarkable influence on the catalytic activity and controllable selectivity. Most of these PNP ligands are highly active for ethylene tri-/tetramerization with considerable selectivity. An asymmetric diisopropenylphosphanyl ligand with an N -cyclohexyl group achieved the highest activity of 2036 kg (g Cr h -1 ) -1 with a high total selectivity of 81.1 wt% toward valuable 1-hexene (43.0 wt%) and 1-octene (38.1 wt%) at 40 bar ethylene and 60 °C. An asymmetric mixed isopropenyl/ethylphosphanyl ligand with an N -isopropyl group exhibited a high 1-octene selectivity of 65.5 wt% and a high total 1-hexene/1-octene selectivity (91.5 wt%) with a high activity of 1256 kg (g Cr h -1 ) -1 .