Catalytic Ethylene Dimerization and Oligomerization: Recent Developments with Nickel Complexes Containing P,N-Chelating Ligands

Abstract
Catalytic ethylene oligomerization represents a topic of considerable current academic and industrial interest, in particular for the production of linear α-olefins in the C4−C10 range, whose demand is growing fast. Identifying and fine-tuning the parameters that influence the activity and selectivity of metal catalysts constitute major challenges at the interface between ligand design, coordination/organometallic chemistry, and homogeneous catalysis. In this Account, we show how comparative studies aiming at modulating the coordinating properties of functional ligands for a metal, such as nickel, which is used in industrial processes, lead to beneficial effects in catalytic ethylene oligomerization.
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