Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass an organoruthenium compound of the formula (I) or formula (II): ##STR00001##
Wherein X, L, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are as defined herein. Also disclosed herein are the use of organoruthenium compound of formula (I) or formula (II) as (pre)catalysts for the olefin metathesis reactions, as well as to the process for carrying out the olefin metathesis reaction.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass an organoruthenium compound of the formula (I) or formula (II): ##STR00001##
Wherein X, L, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are as defined herein. Also disclosed herein are the use of organoruthenium compound of formula (I) or formula (II) as (pre)catalysts for the olefin metathesis reactions, as well as to the process for carrying out the olefin metathesis reaction.

Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.

Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.

Provided are a novel acyclic carbene ligand for ruthenium complex formation; a ruthenium complex catalyst using the ligand; a method of using the complex as a catalyst in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction; a method of preparing the ruthenium complex catalyst; and a method of preparing a linear alpha-olefin, the method including the step of reacting a linear or cyclic alkene compound in the presence of the ruthenium complex catalyst. The acyclic carbene ligand of the present invention and the ruthenium complex catalyst using the same have high selectivity and turnover number for terminal olefin formation in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction, and thus linear α-olefins may be prepared with a high yield.

Provided are a novel acyclic carbene ligand for ruthenium complex formation; a ruthenium complex catalyst using the ligand; a method of using the complex as a catalyst in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction; a method of preparing the ruthenium complex catalyst; and a method of preparing a linear alpha-olefin, the method including the step of reacting a linear or cyclic alkene compound in the presence of the ruthenium complex catalyst. The acyclic carbene ligand of the present invention and the ruthenium complex catalyst using the same have high selectivity and turnover number for terminal olefin formation in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction, and thus linear α-olefins may be prepared with a high yield.

Provided are a novel acyclic carbene ligand for ruthenium complex formation; a ruthenium complex catalyst using the ligand; a method of using the complex as a catalyst in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction; a method of preparing the ruthenium complex catalyst; and a method of preparing a linear alpha-olefin, the method including the step of reacting a linear or cyclic alkene compound in the presence of the ruthenium complex catalyst. The acyclic carbene ligand of the present invention and the ruthenium complex catalyst using the same have high selectivity and turnover number for terminal olefin formation in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction, and thus linear α-olefins may be prepared with a high yield.

Provided is a method for preparing 1-butene and propylene including: supplying a C4 mixture stream to a first hydrogenation reactor to convert 1,3-butadiene into 1-butene; supplying a discharge stream from the first hydrogenation reactor to a first distillation column, supplying a lower discharge stream from the first distillation column including 2-butene and n-butane to a metathesis reactor, and supplying an upper discharge stream from the first distillation column including 1-butene and i-butane to a second distillation column; recovering an upper discharge stream the second distillation column including i-butane and recovering 1-butene from a lower discharge stream from the second distillation column; and producing propylene in the metathesis reactor, supplying a discharge stream from the metathesis reactor to a purification unit to recover propylene, and recycling an unreacted material to the metathesis reactor.

Provided is a method for preparing 1-butene and propylene including: supplying a C4 mixture stream to a first hydrogenation reactor to convert 1,3-butadiene into 1-butene; supplying a discharge stream from the first hydrogenation reactor to a first distillation column, supplying a lower discharge stream from the first distillation column including 2-butene and n-butane to a metathesis reactor, and supplying an upper discharge stream from the first distillation column including 1-butene and i-butane to a second distillation column; recovering an upper discharge stream the second distillation column including i-butane and recovering 1-butene from a lower discharge stream from the second distillation column; and producing propylene in the metathesis reactor, supplying a discharge stream from the metathesis reactor to a purification unit to recover propylene, and recycling an unreacted material to the metathesis reactor.

Provided is a method for preparing 1-butene and propylene including: supplying a C4 mixture stream to a first hydrogenation reactor to convert 1,3-butadiene into 1-butene; supplying a discharge stream from the first hydrogenation reactor to a first distillation column, supplying a lower discharge stream from the first distillation column including 2-butene and n-butane to a metathesis reactor, and supplying an upper discharge stream from the first distillation column including 1-butene and i-butane to a second distillation column; recovering an upper discharge stream the second distillation column including i-butane and recovering 1-butene from a lower discharge stream from the second distillation column; and producing propylene in the metathesis reactor, supplying a discharge stream from the metathesis reactor to a purification unit to recover propylene, and recycling an unreacted material to the metathesis reactor.