Oligomerization of α-olefins by the dimeric nickel bisamido complex [Ni{1-N(PMes2)-2-N(μ-PMes2)C6H4-κ3N,N′,P,-κ1P′}]2 activated by methylalumoxane (MAO)

[Ni{1-N(PMes2)-2-N(μ-PMes2)C6H4-κ3N,N′,P-κ1P′}]2 after activation by methylalumoxane is a highly active catalyst in the oligomerization and isomerization of α-olefins such as ethene, propene, isobutene, 1-hexene and 1,5-hexadiene. To our knowledge this is the most active catalyst for the oligomerization of propene.