Elongation and branching of α-olefins by two ethylene molecules

alpha-Olefins are important starting materials for the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and fine and bulk chemicals. However, the selective synthesis of alpha-olefins from ethylene, a highly abundant and inexpensive feedstock, is restricted, and thus a broadly applicable selective alpha-olefin synthesis using ethylene is highly desirable. Here, we report the catalytic reaction of an alpha-olefin with two ethylene molecules. The first ethylene molecule forms a 4-ethyl branch and the second a new terminal carboncarbon double bond (C2 elongation). The key to this reaction is the development of a highly active and stable molecular titanium catalyst that undergoes extremely fast beta-hydride elimination and transfer.

Automated summary

Alpha-olefins are crucial for the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. However, the selective synthesis of alpha-olefins from ethylene is limited. This study presents a catalytic reaction that combines an alpha-olefin with two ethylene molecules using a highly active and stable molecular titanium catalyst.