Palladium Catalyst Air Water Tolerance Olefin Oligomerization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing olefin oligomerization processes require rigorous air and moisture-free conditions due to the use of sensitive transition metal catalysts and activating agents like methylaluminoxane, which are economically challenging to maintain on an industrial scale.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst system comprising a coordination complex dimer with two central palladium atoms bonded to four ligand donor atoms, including group 16 and group 15 elements, which can catalyze olefin oligomerization and polymerization without the need for activating agents sensitive to air and water, allowing for reactions in the presence of oxygen and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional transition metal catalysts and activating agents like methylaluminoxane are used, then olefin oligomerization can be catalyzed, but the catalyst system becomes sensitive to air and water requiring rigorous air and moisture-free conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the activating agents (such as boranes and methylaluminoxane) from the catalyst system, retaining only the transition metal complex that performs the oligomerization function. This extraction eliminates the air- and water-sensitive components while preserving the catalytic activity, allowing the reaction to proceed under tolerant conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the catalyst composition by using specific transition metal complexes with particular ligand structures that inherently provide air and water tolerance. This parameter change in catalyst design enables the system to function without requiring strict exclusion of air and moisture, simplifying operational procedures.
2Productivity
If activating agents like methylaluminoxane are used, then catalytic activity is enhanced, but sensitive metal-carbon bonds are introduced that can be broken upon exposure to air and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the activating agents from the system, using only the transition metal complex itself to provide catalytic activity. This eliminates the formation of sensitive metal-carbon bonds that would otherwise be created by activating agents, thereby improving catalyst stability against air and water while maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If air and moisture-free conditions are implemented, then catalyst stability is maintained, but economic constraints make these conditions inconvenient to achieve on an industrial scale
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the air- and water-sensitive activating agents from the catalyst system, the patent eliminates the need for expensive air and moisture-free operational conditions. This extraction allows the use of simpler, more economically viable equipment and procedures while maintaining catalyst stability and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables olefin oligomerization and polymerization processes that do not require air and water-free conditions, improving the economic viability and operational simplicity of industrial-scale production by using a palladium-based catalyst system that stabilizes in the presence of oxygen and moisture.
Implementation Method 1
A catalyst and/or precatalyst of the disclosure, which can catalyze olefin oligomerization and/or polymerization
Implementation Method 2
a coordination complex dimer having two central palladium atoms, wherein each of the palladium atoms is bonded to four ligand donor atoms
Data Source
AI summary
A catalyst and/or precatalyst for olefin oligomerization comprising one or more coordination complexes having one or more central palladium metal atoms. Each palladium atom is bonded to four ligand donor atoms. Two of the donor atoms are group 16 elements and two of the donor atoms are group 15 elements. Also provided are neutral or cationic coordination complex dimers, so that the two palladium atoms are both bonded to one or two donor atoms from group 16, and each palladium atom is bonded to two donor atoms from group 15. In some instances, each of the two group 16 donor atoms are oxygen and each of the four group 15 donor atoms are nitrogen.