Methods for the hydroalkenylation of conjugated, 1,3-dienes using a diimine catalyst. The method comprises mixing a diene having at least five carbon atoms and an iron diimine complex at a temperature of about −60° C. to about 23° C. to provide a catalyst solution; and introducing one or more alpha olefins at a pressure of at least 300 psig to obtain a product comprising the substituted diene monomer.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may include at least one chromium compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may have a structure including a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups having the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, a phosphonium or phosphonium salt, a sulfonate or sulfonate salt, a sulfonium or sulfonium salt, an ester, an anhydride, a polyether, or a long-chained amine-capped compound, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not include an antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may include at least one chromium compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may have a structure including a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups having the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, a phosphonium or phosphonium salt, a sulfonate or sulfonate salt, a sulfonium or sulfonium salt, an ester, an anhydride, a polyether, or a long-chained amine-capped compound, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not include an antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may comprise at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups comprising the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not comprise the antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may comprise at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups comprising the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not comprise the antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may comprise at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups comprising the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not comprise the antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may comprise at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups comprising the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not comprise the antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.

According to one embodiment, a catalyst system that reduces polymeric fouling may comprise at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and at least one antifouling agent or a derivative thereof. The antifouling agent may comprise a structure comprising a central aluminum molecule bound to an R1 group, bound to an R2 group, and bound to an R3 group. One or more of the chemical groups R1, R2, and R3 may be antifouling groups comprising the structure —O((CH.sub.2).sub.nO).sub.mR4, where n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 100, and R4 is a hydrocarbyl group. The chemical groups R1, R2, or R3 that do not comprise the antifouling group, if any, may be hydrocarbyl groups.