Dimerization of ethene in a fluidized bed reactor using Ni-based Supported Ionic Liquid Phase (SILP) catalysts

Abstract

The complexes [(mall)Ni(dppanis)][SbF₆] (mall = methallyl, dppanis = (2-methoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine) 1, [(mall)Ni(PPh₃OC₁₀)][SbF₆] (PPh₃OC₁₀ = (2-decyloxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine) 2, and [(mall)Ni(PPh₃OdiMePh)][SbF₆] (PPh₃OdiMePh = (2-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)phenyl)diphenylphosphine) 3 were immobilized as Supported Ionic Liquid Phase (SILP) catalysts and applied for the tandem dimerization/isomerization of ethylene to 2-butene in a fluidized bed reactor. The better heat removal in the fluidized bed improves the catalyst stability and allows for a more detailed investigation of the deactivation mechanism. Based on kinetic studies, a second order deactivation mechanism is proposed, in which two nickel complexes dimerize if the supply of ethene is insufficient.