Abstract
In this paper a novel ligand of the type [PNPNH] is presented for the application in a new homogeneous highly selective ethene trimerization system for the formation of 1-hexene, which consists of the chromium source CrCl3(thf)(3), the ligand Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)H (1), and Et3Al as an activator in toluene. The excellent characteristics of this new system, e.g. very high selectivity to C-6 with highest purity of the C-6 fraction (>99 % 1-hexene), activity on a constant level on a long timescale, use of small amounts of Et3Al as a cheap activator, and only very low production of PE, make it to a hot candidate for industrial application. Its organometallic background gives an indication of the nature of the active catalyst species.