Novel Coordination of (Benzoylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane in a Nickel Oligomerization Catalyst

Abstract

The first defined complex for oligo- and polymerization of ethylene which requires no co-catalyst is the crystalline nickel complex (1). Its structure was established by X-ray analysis. Dissolved in toluene, compound (1) reacts with ethylene (50 bar) at 50°C giving almost exclusively linear α-olefins; linear polyethylene is formed under a different set of conditions.