Synthesis of polymer-attached niobium and tantalum complexes and their applications to the catalysis of olefin hydrogenation, isomerization and ethylene dimerization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(85)87110-2

Polymer-attached CpNbCl₄, CpNbCl₃, CpNbCl₂, Cp₂Nb(BH₄), CpTaCl₄, (PhCH₂)NbCl₄ and (PhCH₂)TaCl₄ have been prepared. The reduction products of supported niobium and tantalum chlorides are active hydrogenation catalysts for olefins and for diphenylacetylene which was hydrogenated to 1,2-diphenylethane through intermediate stilbene. The similar reduction products have also been employed in catalytic isomerization of allylbenzene which is converted into a mixture of trans- and cis-propenylbenzene. Polymer-attached CpTaCl₄, when treated with neopentyllithium, can effect dimerization of ethylene to give 1-butene.