Activation of the Ti(OC4H9)4-Al(C2H5)3 catalytic system in the selective dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene by the grignard reagent

The effect of an organomagnesium compound on the dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene was studied. The organomagnesium compound increases the catalytic activity of the Ti(OC4H9)4-Al(C2H5)3 system by 5–10 times. A high degree of selectivity (up to 99%) with respect to 1-butene was obtained. This makes it possible to eliminate a series of technological difficulties involved in the industrial production of 1-butene. The kinetics of the reduction of Ti(OC4H9)4 by butylmagnesium chloride were studied by ESR and polarography.