Selective ethylene oligomerization: Recent advances in chromium catalysis and mechanistic investigations

Selective production of linear α-olefins is of significant commercial interest. Recently discovered catalytic systems based on titanium, tantalum, and chromium show remarkable selectivity and productivity for the oligomerization of ethylene to 1-hexene or 1-octene. Chromium-based catalysts are the most selective and active and show the highest structural diversity. This paper discusses the most recent advances in chromium chemistry related to selective olefin oligomerization. Aspects regarding ligand design, catalyst generation, selectivity for different products, and reaction mechanism are presented. Isotopic labeling protocols designed to distinguish between various mechanisms of catalysis are reviewed.