OLIGOMERIZATION AND COOLIGOMERIZATION OF ALPHA-OLEFINS CATALYZED BY NICKEL(II) ALKYLALUMINUM SYSTEMS/

This work describes cu-olefins oligomerization/co-oligomerization of 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene to linear oligomers (C-8-C-16 range) promo ted by catalytic systems based on nickel(II) salts/alkylaluminum compo unds. Conversion, selectivity (isomerization or oligomerization) and l inearity are determined by mass distribution calculation of the substr ates (alpha-olefins) in the products. The best results are obtained wi th Ni(acac)(2)/AlEt2OEt working at 60 degrees C, Al/Ni ratio between 0 .8-1.4 and using toluene as a solvent. Under these conditions, the con version is higher than 90% giving 40% of oligomerization selectivity. The linearity varies from 65% (C-16 fraction) to 98% (C-8 fraction).