Ethylene oligomerization over chromium(III) complexes with pyrrole derivatives

The effect of the nature of a chromium(III) coordination compound and various substituted pyrrole ligands on ethylene oligomerization in the presence of a Cr(III) complex–pyrrole ligand (L)/AlEt3 catalyst system (CS), where Cr(III) is Cr(EH)3, Cr(асас)3, or CrCl3(THF)3 and L is pyrrole, 2-phenylpyrrole, 2-formylpyrrole, N-methylpyrrole, or N-vinyl-2-phenylpyrrole, has been studied. It has been shown that the most significant effect on the behavior of the CS is exerted by the nature of the ligand involved in the formation of the CS. The acid–base properties of the employed ligands have been determined by quantum-chemical calculations. The data obtained have revealed that selectivity of the catalyst system depends on the ligand basicity.