Tungsten imido catalysts for selective ethylene dimerisation

Abstract

A tungsten imido complex W(NDipp)Me₃Cl (Dipp = 2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃) is active for the selective dimerisation of ethylene to yield 1-butene under mild conditions. Immobilisation and activation of W(NDipp)Cl₄(THF) on layered double hydroxides, silica or polymethylaluminoxane yields active solid state catalysts for the selective dimerisation of ethylene. The polymethylaluminoxane-based catalyst displays a turnover frequency (4.0 mol_C2H4 mol_W⁻¹ h⁻¹) almost 7 times that of the homogeneous catalyst.