Catalytic systems based on cp2 zrx2 (X = cl, h), organoaluminum compounds and perfluorophenylboranes: Role of zr,zr-and zr,al-hydride intermediates in alkene dimerization and oligomerization

The activity and chemoselectivity of the Cp2ZrCl2-XAlBui2 (X = H, Bui) and [Cp2ZrH2]2-ClAlEt2 catalytic systems activated by (Ph3C)[B(C6F5)4] or B(C6F5)3 were studied in reactions with 1-hexene. The activation of the systems by B(C6F5)3 resulted in the selective formation of head-to-tail alkene dimers in up to 93% yields. NMR studies of the reactions of Zr complexes with organoaluminum compounds (OACs) and boron activators showed the formation of Zr,Zr- and Zr,Al-hydride intermediates, for which diffusion coefficients, hydrodynamic radii, and volumes were estimated using the diffusion ordered spectroscopy DOSY. Bis-zirconium hydride clusters of type x[Cp2ZrH2∙Cp2ZrHCl∙ClAlR2]∙yRnAl(C6F5)3−n were found to be the key intermediates of alkene dimerization, whereas cationic Zr,Al-hydrides led to the formation of oligomers.