The effect of alkyl substituents in nickelocenes on the catalytic dimerization of ethylene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00698964

(C5H4i-Pr)2Ni exhibits the highest catalytic activity in the dimerization of ethylene among the nickelocenes, (C5H4R)2Ni (R = H, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, or t-Bu) and their analogs (C5H4R)Ni(C3H5) (R = H, i-Pr).The higher activity is accompanied by lower selectivity with respect to 1-butene and with higher yields of 1-hexene.It is suggested that the introduction of an alkyl substituent in the cyclopentadienyl ring of nickelocene favors the generation of "hydride sites" involving the nickel atom.These sites participate in the process of ethylene dimerization.