Mechanistic Studies of the Ethylene Trimerization Reaction with Chromium−Diphosphine Catalysts: Experimental Evidence for a Mechanism Involving Metallacyclic Intermediates

Abstract

A system for catalytic trimerization of ethylene utilizing CrCl_3(THF)_3 and a diphosphine ligand PNP^(OMe) [= (o-MeO-C_6H_4)_2PN(Me)P(o-MeO-C_6H_4)_2] has been investigated. The coordination chemistry of chromium with PNP^(OMe) has been explored, and (PNP^(OMe))CrCl_3 and (PNP^(OMe))CrPh_3 (3) have been synthesized by ether displacement from chromium(III) precursors. Salt metathesis of (PNP^(OMe))CrCl_3 with o,o'-biphenyldiyl Grignard affords (PNP^(OMe))Cr(o,o'-biphenyldiyl)Br (4). Activation of 3 with H(Et_2O)_2B[C_6H_3(CF_3)_2]_4 or 4 with NaB[C_6H_3(CF_3)_2]_4 generates a catalytic system and trimerizes a 1:1 mixture of C_2D_4 and C_2H_4 to give isotopomers of 1-hexene without H/D scrambling (C_6D_(12), C_6D_8H_4, C_6D_4H_8, and C_6H_(12) in a 1:3:3:1 ratio). The lack of crossover supports a mechanism involving metallacyclic intermediates. The mechanism of the ethylene trimerization reaction has also been studied by the reaction of trans-, cis-, and gem-ethylene-d_2 with 4 upon activation with NaB[C_6H_3(CF_3)_2]_4.

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