A process is provided for the selective oligomerisation of C5 to C20 alpha-olefins to produce polyalphaolefin oligomers with a molecular weight distribution that is suitable for use in lubricant base oils.

A method of producing a polyether polyol that includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a number average molecular weight of less than 1,000 g/mol and a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 2, the one or more monomers including at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R.sup.1)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)1(R.sup.4)0 or 1. Whereas, M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R3 each includes a same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group. The method further includes forming a polyether polyol having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst.

A method for producing an olefin oligomer is disclosed, in which an olefin oligomerization reaction is performed in the presence of an olefin oligomerization catalyst comprising (A) a chromium compound, (B) an amine compound of the general formula (1):

##STR00001##

(R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 represent a group such as a hydrocarbon group, Y represents a structure represented by CR.sup.5R.sup.6, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 represent a group such as a hydrogen atom, and Z represents an integer of 1 to 10),
and (C) a compound such as an organometal compound; and the olefin oligomerization catalyst.

The invention relates to oligomerization of olefins, such as ethylene, to higher olefins, such as a mixture of 1-hexene and 1-octene, using a catalyst system that comprises a) a source of chromium b) one or more activators and c) a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound. Additionally, the invention relates to a phosphacycle-containing ligating compound and a process for making said compound.

Provided are a water-soluble triarylphosphine for a palladium catalyst, which has high selectivity in a telomerization reaction and can be recovered with efficiency, an ammonium salt thereof, and a method for efficiently producing the same. Specifically, provided are bis(6-methyl-3-sulphophenyl)phenylphosphine; a bis(6-methyl-3-sulphonatopheyl)phenylphosphine diammonium salt obtained by reacting the phosphine with a tertiary amine having a total of 3 to 27 carbon atoms in groups bonded to one nitrogen atom; and a method for producing the same.

A method of producing an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 1, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R.sup.1)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)1(R.sup.4).sub.0 or 1, whereas M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each includes a same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group. The method further includes forming the alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst.

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst composition for the oligomerization of ethylene comprising a zirconium-containing catalyst and an organoaluminum-containing co-catalyst. The disclosure also relates to a process for oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of the catalyst composition according to the disclosure. The disclosed process results in C.sub.4-C.sub.20 linear alpha olefins having improved linearity.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing an -olefin low polymer at a high -olefin low polymer selectivity and a high -olefin low polymer yield with suppressing the deterioration of catalytic activity with time, and the invention relates to a method for producing an -olefin low polymer, which comprises performing a low polymerization reaction of an -olefin in the presence of a catalyst containing a chlorine atom-containing compound (d) and a reaction solvent, wherein the chlorine atom-containing compound (d) that are at least two compounds having specific chlorine atom elimination rate is supplied in predetermined ratio.

Provided herein are processes for ethylene oligomerization in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst and a co-catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon product comprising C.sub.10-C.sub.55 oligomers.

A catalyst and a process for using the catalyst are presented. The catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst and includes active metal halides bonded to functional groups. The functional groups are bonded to a polymeric backbone to form the structure supporting the catalyst. The catalyst is useful for the dimerization of acetylene to convert the acetylene to a larger hydrocarbon, and in particular to dimerize acetylene to vinylacetylene.