The invention provides a method for preparing low-carbon-number olefin through
ethylene oligomerization. The method comprises the following steps: adding a
solvent, a cocatalyst and an iron-based complex into a reactor, reacting for 15-60 minutes under the conditions that the
ethylene pressure is 1-3 MPa and the
reaction temperature is 60-80 DEG C, and cooling to obtain an
ethylene oligomerization product, in the formula I, R1 and R1'are the same or different and are respectively and independently selected from H, C1-C4
alkyl and derivatives thereof, R2, R3, R4, R2 ', R3' and R4 'are the same or different and are respectively and independently selected from H, C1-C2
alkyl and derivatives thereof, and M is
halogen. The method can be used for selectively preparing C4-C8 olefin.