This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

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 relates 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.

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 relates 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.

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 relates 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.

Ethylene oligomerization catalysts include a solid support having surface hydroxyl groups on a surface of the solid support. Functional groups attached to the solid support through at least one covalent bond and coordinated with at least one catalytically active transition metal. Individual functional groups are attached to the solid support as products of condensation reactions of at least one hydrolysable group of precursor ligands with a corresponding surface group of the solid support. The precursor ligands have a general formula (Ph.sub.2P).sub.2N—R.sup.1-A, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.40 hydrocarbylene or C.sub.1-C.sub.40 heterohydrocarbylene; and A is a hydrolysable group selected from trialkoxysilyl, halosilyl, carboxylates, esters, phosphonates, amines, imines, thiols, thiocarboxylates, or halides.

Ethylene oligomerization catalysts include a solid support having surface hydroxyl groups on a surface of the solid support. Functional groups attached to the solid support through at least one covalent bond and coordinated with at least one catalytically active transition metal. Individual functional groups are attached to the solid support as products of condensation reactions of at least one hydrolysable group of precursor ligands with a corresponding surface group of the solid support. The precursor ligands have a general formula (Ph.sub.2P).sub.2N—R.sup.1-A, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.40 hydrocarbylene or C.sub.1-C.sub.40 heterohydrocarbylene; and A is a hydrolysable group selected from trialkoxysilyl, halosilyl, carboxylates, esters, phosphonates, amines, imines, thiols, thiocarboxylates, or halides.

Ethylene oligomerization catalysts include a solid support having surface hydroxyl groups on a surface of the solid support. Functional groups attached to the solid support through at least one covalent bond and coordinated with at least one catalytically active transition metal. Individual functional groups are attached to the solid support as products of condensation reactions of at least one hydrolysable group of precursor ligands with a corresponding surface group of the solid support. The precursor ligands have a general formula (Ph.sub.2P).sub.2N—R.sup.1-A, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.40 hydrocarbylene or C.sub.1-C.sub.40 heterohydrocarbylene; and A is a hydrolysable group selected from trialkoxysilyl, halosilyl, carboxylates, esters, phosphonates, amines, imines, thiols, thiocarboxylates, or halides.

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