Support effect in ethylene oligomerization mediated by heterogenized nickel catalysts

Immobilization of Ni(MeCN)6(BF4)2 onto [Si]-MCM-41 and [Si,Al]-MCM-41 affords catalytic materials active in ethylene oligomerization in the presence of AlEt3 as co-catalyst. The ethylene oligomerization reaction is performed in a batch reactor under 0.98 MPa of ethylene at 40 °C. The hybrid systems show activity for ethylene dimerization and trimerization, as well as for 1-butene isomerization. Both the amount of AlEt3 and the presence of Al in the MCM-41 framework affect dramatically the targeted formation of 1-butene.