Catalyst compositions and processes for the oligomerization of ethylene to 1-octene are described. The catalyst composition includes a triamino bisphospino (NPNPN) ligand system with specific phosphorous and nitrogen ligands. The terminal nitrogen atoms include linear alkyl hydrocarbons that differ in the number of carbon atoms by 3.

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst system comprising i) (a) a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine chromium salt or (b) a chromium salt and a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine and ii) an organoaluminum compound. The present disclosure also relate to a process comprising: a) contacting i) ethylene; ii) a catalyst system comprising (a) a 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine chromium salt complex or (b) a chromium salt and a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine; ii) an organoaluminum compound, and iii) optionally an organic reaction medium; and b) forming an oligomer product in a reaction zone.

Catalyst systems suitable for tetramerizing ethylene to form 1-octene may include a catalyst having a structure according to Formula (VI) or Formula (VII). In Formulas (VI) and (VII), X is a halogen, a (C.sub.2-C.sub.30) carboxylate, acetylacetonate, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.30) hydrocarbyl; L.sub.1 is a neutral coordinating ligand; n is an integer from 0 to 6; Y is a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryl, a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryloxy, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted alkoxy; and L∩L is a bidentate chelating ligand. The catalyst system may also include an aluminum containing agent which includes a reaction product of an organoaluminum compound and an antifouling compound. The antifouling compound may include one or more quaternary salts.

Catalyst systems suitable for tetramerizing ethylene to form 1-octene may include a catalyst comprising a chromium compound coordinated with a ligand and a co-catalyst comprising an organoaluminum compound. The ligand may include have a chemical structure according to formula (I), wherein at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, and R.sub.12 have the structure according to formula (II) wherein R.sub.A, R.sub.B, R.sub.C, and R.sub.D and the remainder of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, and R.sub.12 are independently chosen from a hydrogen or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.50) hydrocarbyl group.

Process for producing alpha olefins comprising contacting ethylene, a zirconium based catalyst system comprising, a hydrocarbylmetal compound, a chain transfer agent, and optionally an organic reaction medium. Chain transfer agents which can be utilized include a) hydrogen, b) a compound comprising a hydrogen silicon bond, a compound having a hydrogen sulfur bond, a compound having a hydrogen phosphorus bond, or c) a transition metal compound chain transfer agent.

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).sub.1(R.sup.2).sub.1(R.sup.3).sub.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. 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.

Catalyst systems containing a titanium alkoxymagnesium halide supported catalyst component can be used for the polymerization of olefins. The catalyst can be prepared from a microcrystalline solid alkoxymagnesium halide support having a lattice spacing in the 5 nm to 15 nm range.

A process of preparing a solid catalyst component for the production of polypropylene includes a) dissolving a halide-containing magnesium compound in a mixture, the mixture including an epoxy compound, an organic phosphorus compound, and a hydrocarbon solvent to form a homogenous solution; b) treating the homogenous solution with an organosilicon compound during or after the dissolving step; c) treating the homogenous solution with a first titanium compound in the presence of a first non-phthalate electron donor, and an organosilicon compound, to form a solid precipitate; and d) treating the solid precipitate with a second titanium compound in the presence of a second non-phthalate electron donor to form the solid catalyst component, where the process is free of carboxylic acids and anhydrides.

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.

Catalyst systems suitable for tetramerizing ethylene to form 1-octene may include a catalyst having a structure according to Formula (VI) or Formula (VII). In Formulas (VI) and (VII), X is a halogen, a (C.sub.2-C.sub.30) carboxylate, acetylacetonate, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.30) hydrocarbyl; L.sub.1 is a neutral coordinating ligand; n is an integer from 0 to 6; Y is a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryl, a (C.sub.6-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted aryloxy, or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)fluorine-substituted alkoxy; and L∩L is a bidentate chelating ligand. The catalyst system may also include an aluminum containing agent which includes a reaction product of an organoaluminum compound and an antifouling compound. The antifouling compound may include one or more organic acids, organic acid salts, esters, anhydrides, or combinations of these.