Self-Assembled Organometallic Nickel Complexes as Catalysts for Selective Dimerization of Ethylene into 1-Butene

Bimetallic Metal Sites in Metal-Organic Frameworks Facilitate the Production of 1-Butene from Electrosynthesized Ethylene

Converting CO2 to synthetic hydrocarbon fuels is of increasing interest. In light of progress in electrified CO2 to ethylene, we explored routes to dimerize to 1-butene, an olefin that can serve as a building block to ethylene longer-chain alkanes. With goal of selective and active dimerization, we investigate a series of metal-organic frameworks having bimetallic catalytic sites. We find that the tunable pore structure enables optimization of selectivity and that periodic pore channels enhance activity. In a tandem system for the conversion of CO2 to 1-C4H8, wherein the outlet cathodic gas from a CO2-to-C2H4 electrolyzer is fed directly (via a dehumidification stage) into the C2H4 dimerizer, we study the highest-performing MOF found herein: M' = Ru and M″ = Ni in the bimetallic two-dimensional M'2(OAc)4M″(CN)4 MOF. We report a 1-C4H8 production rate of 1.3 mol gcat-1 h-1 and a C2H4 conversion of 97%. From these experimental data, we project an estimated cradle-to-gate carbon intensity of -2.1 kg-CO2e/kg-1-C4H8 when CO2 is supplied from direct air capture and when the required energy is supplied by electricity having the carbon intensity of wind.

Cr-catalysed ethylene dimerization in an ionic liquid-organic solvent biphasic system with perfect 1-butene selectivity

Cr-catalyzed ionic liquid-organic biphasic ethylene dimerization was realized with 100% 1-butene selectivity. The perfect α-olefin selectivity can be rationalized in terms of the poor solubility of the oligomerized long-chain olefins in ionic liquids, and enables the establishment of a dimerization process without any complicated and energy-intensive catalyst and byproduct separation processes.

Catalytic Properties of Two Complexes of chromium(III) and cobalt(II) with Nitrilotriacetate, Dipicolinate, and 4-Acetylpyridine

In this paper, a synthesis of two innovative coordination compounds, based on chromium(III) and cobalt(II) ions with N,O-donor ligands (nitrilotriacetate, dipicolinate) and 4-acetylpyridine, is reported. The obtained metal-organic compounds were structurally characterized using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The well-defined chromium(III) and cobalt(II) complexes were used as precatalysts in the oligomerization reaction of 2-chloro-2-propen-1-ol and 2-propen-1-ol with methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as an activator. The products of the oligomerization reaction were subjected to full physicochemical characteristics, i.e., time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), TGA, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The catalytic activity of the precatalysts in both reactions was calculated and compared with other catalysts known in the literature.

Ethylene Dimerization and Oligomerization Using Bis(phosphino)boryl Supported Ni Complexes

We report the dimerization and oligomerization of ethylene using bis(phosphino)boryl supported Ni(II) complexes as catalyst precursors. By using alkylaluminum(III) compounds or other Lewis acid additives, Ni(II) complexes of the type (^RPBP)NiBr (R = tBu or Ph) show activity for the production of butenes and higher olefins. Optimized turnover frequencies of 640 mol_ethylene·mol_Ni^-1·s^-1 for the formation of butenes with 41(1)% selectivity for 1-butene using (^PhPBP)NiBr, and 68 mol_ethylene·mol_Ni^-1·s^-1 for butenes production with 87.2(3)% selectivity for 1-butene using (^tBuPBP)NiBr, have been demonstrated. With methylaluminoxane as a co-catalyst and (^tBuPBP)NiBr as the precatalyst, ethylene oligomerization to form C₄ through C₂₀ products was achieved, while the use of (^PhPBP)NiBr as the pre-catalyst retained selectivity for C₄ products. Our studies suggest that the ethylene dimerization is not initiated by Ni hydride or alkyl intermediates. Rather, our studies point to a mechanism that involves a cooperative B/Ni activation of ethylene to form a key 6-membered borametallacycle intermediate. Thus, a cooperative activation of ethylene by the Ni-B unit of the (^RPBP)Ni catalysts is proposed as a key element of the Ni catalysis.

Nickel-Catalyzed Ethylene Dimerization Based on PNP(NR2)2 Ligands

Nickel (II) complexes stabilized by PNP(NR2)2 (L1: R = Methyl, L2: R = ethyl, L3: R = isopropyl) ligands were synthesized and characterized. A narrow range of products was observed for catalytic systems containing nickel complexes and ethyl aluminum dichloride (EADC). All exhibit considerable activity in the ethylene dimerization to produce 1-butene. Precatalyst 1 is the most conducive for ethylene dimerization, producing 83.4% C4 (1-C4 36.8%) and 103.0 × 105 g/(molNi·h) in terms of its activity under the appropriate conditions. By adjusting the conditions of the catalytic system for precatalyst 2, high C4 selectivity (88.1%) with reasonable activity (76.9 × 105 g/(molNi·h)) can be obtained. The X-ray single-crystal analysis of complexes presents mononuclear bidentate coordination at the Ni center, and the relationship between certain bite angles may also imply catalytic performance.

Chromium Catalysts Based on Unsymmetrical PNP Ligands for Selective Ethylene Tri-/Tetramerization: Effect of Electron-Withdrawing/Donating Substituents on Catalytic Performance

The in situ formation and activation of Cr(III) catalysts based on unsymmetrical PNP ligands yield efficient catalytic systems for selective ethylene tri-/tetramerization. The electronic nature (electron-withdrawing or electron-donating) and position (para or meta) of the substituents over the phenyl rings of the PNP, the nature of cocatalyst (DMAO/AlEt3 and MMAO-3A), and reaction conditions have been observed to have a marked impact on catalytic performance, particularly catalytic activity. Ligand L2, bearing 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl substituents, yielded 33.6 kg(product).g(Cr)−1·h−1 catalytic activity with 57.7% C8 selectivity under optimal conditions. Ligand L4, having para-tolyl substituents, yielded 43.3 kg(product).g(Cr)−1·h−1 with 59.0% C8 selectivity under optimum conditions. Changing the positions of both the electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents from para to meta over the phenyls of the PNP may lead to both catalytic systems exhibiting poor performance.

Structural and ethylene oligomerization studies of chelating (imino)phenol Fe(ii), Co(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes: an experimental and theoretical approach

Experimental and theoretical data indicate that the stability and metal charge of N^O Fe(ii), Co(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes control their catalytic activities in ethylene oligomerization reactions.

Highly Active Heterogeneous Catalyst for Ethylene Dimerization Prepared by Selectively Doping Ni on the Surface of a Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework

The production of 1-butene by ethylene dimerization is an important chemical industrial process currently implemented using homogeneous catalysts. Here, we describe a highly active heterogeneous catalyst (Ni-ZIF-8) for ethylene dimerization, which consists of isolating Ni-active sites selectively located on the crystal surface of a zeolitic imidazolate framework. Ni-ZIF-8 can be easily prepared by a simple one-pot synthesis method in which site-specific anchoring of Ni is achieved spontaneously because of the incompatibility between the d⁸ electronic configuration of Ni²⁺ and the three-dimensional framework of ZIF-8. The full exposure and square-planar coordination of the Ni sites accounts for the high catalytic activity of Ni-ZIF-8. It exhibits an average ethylene turnover frequency greater than 1 000 000 h^-1 (1-butene selectivity >85%) at 35 °C and 50 bar, far exceeding the activities of previously reported heterogeneous catalysts and many homogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Moreover, compared to molecular Ni complexes used as homogeneous catalysts for ethylene dimerization, Ni-ZIF-8 has significantly higher stability and shows constant activity during 4 h of continuous reaction. Isotopic labeling experiments indicate that ethylene dimerization over Ni-ZIF-8 follows the Cossee-Arlman mechanism, and detailed characterizations combined with density functional theory calculations rationalize this observed high activity.

Nickel Catalyzed Olefin Oligomerization and Dimerization

Brought to life more than half a century ago and successfully applied for high-value petrochemical intermediates production, nickel-catalyzed olefin oligomerization is still a very dynamic topic, with many fundamental questions to address and industrial challenges to overcome. The unique and versatile reactivity of nickel enables the oligomerization of ethylene, propylene, and butenes into a wide range of oligomers that are highly sought-after in numerous fields to be controlled. Interestingly, both homogeneous and heterogeneous nickel catalysts have been scrutinized and employed to do this. This rare specificity encouraged us to interlink them in this review so as to open up opportunities for further catalyst development and innovation. An in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanisms in play is essential to being able to fine-tune the selectivity and achieve efficiency in the rational design of novel catalytic systems. This review thus provides a complete overview of the subject, compiling the main fundamental/industrial milestones and remaining challenges facing homogeneous/heterogeneous approaches as well as emerging catalytic concepts, with a focus on the last 10 years.

Ni-Based Complexes in Selective Ethylene Oligomerization Processes

Linear alpha-olefins are widely used in the petrochemical industry and the world demand for these compounds increases annually. At present, the main method for producing linear alpha-olefins is the homogeneous catalytic ethylene oligomerization. This review presents modern nickel catalysts for this process, mainly systems for obtaining of one of the most demanded oligomer—1-butene—which is used for the production of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). The dependence of the catalytic performance on the composition and the structure of the used activated complexes, the electronic and coordination states of the nickel center was considered.

The Synthesis of YNU-5 Zeolite and Its Application to the Catalysis in the Dimethyl Ether-to-Olefin Reaction

During prior investigations of the synthesis of the novel zeolite YNU-5 (YFI), it was found that a very slight amount of an impurity phase contaminated the desired zeolitic phase. This impurity was very often ZSM-5 (MFI). The phase composition was determined to be sensitive to the water in the synthesis mixture, and it was possible to obtain a pure phase and also to intentionally generate a specific impurity phase. In the present work, trials based on the dimethyl ether-to-olefin (DTO) reaction using a fixed-bed downflow reactor were performed to assess the effect of the purity of YNU-5 on its catalytic performance. Dealuminated pure YNU-5 exhibited rapid deactivation due to coking at time on stream (TOS) values exceeding 5 min. Surprisingly, this deactivation was greatly suppressed when the material contained a trace amount of ZSM-5 consisting of nano-sized particles. The formation of ZSM-5 nanoparticles evidently improved the performance of the catalytic system during the DTO reaction. The product distributions obtained from this reaction using highly dealuminated and very pure YNU-5 resembled those generated by 12-ring rather than 8-ring zeolite catalysts. The high selectivity for desirable C3 and C4 olefins during the DTO reaction over YNU-5 is beneficial.

Coordination chemistry and catalysis with secondary phosphine oxides

Review on synthesis, coordination chemistry and catalysis with secondary phosphine oxides.

(Ferrocenylpyrazolyl)nickel(ii)-catalysed ethylene oligomerisation

(Ferrocenylpyrazolyl)nickel(ii) complexes upon activation with EtAlCl₂ catalyse ethylene oligomerisation reactions in chlorobenzene to isomers of butenes and C₁₆–C₆₄ olefins without Schulz–Flory distribution.

Intermolecular C–H activation with an Ir-METAMORPhos piano-stool complex – multiple reaction steps at a reactive ligand

Reaction of phenylacetylene with an Ir^III(METAMORPhos) complex generates a unique four-membered IrPNC metallacyclic species with an exocyclic CC fragment.