Despite the fact that the catalytic activity of Cr and W imido complexes in ethylene dimerization processes has been studied by various authors, to date the analogous Mo catalysts have not been studied. In this HOT article, Dyer et al. set out to fill this gap in our knowledge and several molybdenum bis(imido) complexes were tested for ethylene dimerization catalysis in combination with EtAlCl2, showing moderate activity when bulky aryl substituents at the imido ligand are employed. In contrast, when MeAlCl2 is used the activity of the catalyst decreases considerably. To understand the role of the activator in these processes the authors have determined the molecular structures of several complexes derived of the reaction of bis(imido) molybdenum compounds with different aluminium halide reagents.
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Application of molybdenum bis(imido) complexes in ethylene dimerisation catalysis
William R. H. Wright, Andrei S. Batsanov, Antonis M. Messinis, Judith A. K. Howard, Robert P. Tooze, Martin J. Hanton and Philip W. Dyer
Dalton Trans., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2DT12061E
