Chloroaluminate dimerization

The alkali metal chloride (MCI) reacts with the acidic chloroaluminate dimers... 

A similar reaction occurs with fatty acids (such as stearic acid) or methyl stearate, which undergo isomerization, cracking, dimerization, and oligomerization reactions. This has been used to convert solid stearic acid into the more valuable liquid isostearic acid [102] (Scheme 5.1-70). The isomerization and dimerization of oleic acid and methyl oleate have also been found to occur in chloroaluminate(III) ionic liquids [103]. 

The first example of homogeneous transition metal catalysis in an ionic liquid was the platinum-catalyzed hydroformylation of ethene in tetraethylammonium trichlorostannate (mp. 78 °C), described by Parshall in 1972 (Scheme 5.2-1, a)) [1]. In 1987, Knifton reported the ruthenium- and cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation of internal and terminal alkenes in molten [Bu4P]Br, a salt that falls under the now accepted definition for an ionic liquid (see Scheme 5.2-1, b)) [2]. The first applications of room-temperature ionic liquids in homogeneous transition metal catalysis were described in 1990 by Chauvin et al. and by Wilkes et ak. Wilkes et al. used weekly acidic chloroaluminate melts and studied ethylene polymerization in them with Ziegler-Natta catalysts (Scheme 5.2-1, c)) [3]. Chauvin s group dissolved nickel catalysts in weakly acidic chloroaluminate melts and investigated the resulting ionic catalyst solutions for the dimerization of propene (Scheme 5.2-1, d)) [4]. 

As early as 1990, Chauvin and his co-workers from IFP published their first results on the biphasic, Ni-catalyzed dimerization of propene in ionic liquids of the [BMIM]Cl/AlCl3/AlEtCl2 type [4]. In the following years the nickel-catalyzed oligomerization of short-chain alkenes in chloroaluminate melts became one of the most intensively investigated applications of transition metal catalysts in ionic liquids to date. 

Because of its significance, some basic principles of the Ni-catalyzed dimerization of propene in chloroaluminate ionic liquids should be presented here. Table 5.2-2 displays some reported examples, selected to explain the most important aspects of oligomerization chemistry in chloroaluminate ionic liquids [97]. 

The Ni-catalyzed oligomerization of olefins in ionic liquids requires a careful choice of the ionic liquid s acidity. In basic melts (Table 5.2-2, entry (a)), no dimerization activity is observed. FFere, the basic chloride ions prevent the formation of free coordination sites on the nickel catalyst. In acidic chloroaluminate melts, an oligomerization reaction takes place even in the absence of a nickel catalyst (entry (b)). FFowever, no dimers are produced, but a mixture of different oligomers is... 

Table 5.2-2 Selected results from Ni-catalyzed propene dimerization in chloroaluminate ionic...

From these results, the Institut Fran ais du Petrole (IFF) has developed a biphasic version of its established monophasic Dimersol process , which is offered for licensing under the name Difasol process [98]. The Difasol process uses slightly acidic chloroaluminate ionic liquids with small amounts of allcylaluminiums as the solvent for the catalytic nickel center. In comparison to the established Dimersol process , the new biphasic ionic liquid process drastically reduces the consumption of Ni-cata-lyst and allcylaluminiums. Additional advantages arise from the good performance obtained with highly diluted feedstodcs and the significantly improved dimer selectivity of the Difasol process (for more detailed information see Section 5.3). 

Closely related catalytic systems have also been used for the selective dimerization of ethene to butenes [99]. Dupont et al. dissolved [Ni(MeCN)<3][BF4]2 in the slightly acidic [BMIM]Cl/AlCl3/AlEtCl2 chloroaluminate system (ratio = 1 1.2 0.25) and obtained 100 % butenes at -10 °C and 18 bar ethylene pressure (TOF = 1731 h Y Unfortunately, the more valuable 1-butene was not produced selectively, with a mixture of all linear butene isomers (i.e., 1-butene, cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene) being obtained. 

The selective, Ni-catalyzed, biphasic dimerization of 1-butene to linear octenes has been studied in the author s group. A catalytic system well loiown for its ability to form linear dimers from 1-butene in conventional organic solvents - namely the square-planar Ni-complex (q-4-cycloocten-l-yl](l,l,l,5,5,5,-hexafluoro-2,4-pen-tanedionato-0,0 )nickel [(H-COD)Ni(hfacac)] [103] - was therefore used in chloroaluminate ionic liquids. 

Comparison of the dimerization of 1-butene with [(H-COD)Ni(hfacac)] in chloroaluminate ionic liquids with the identical reaction in toluene is quite instructive. First of all, the reaction in the ionic liquid solvent is biphasic with no detectable... 

Flowever, information concerning the characteristics of these systems under the conditions of a continuous process is still very limited. From a practical point of view, the concept of ionic liquid multiphasic catalysis can be applicable only if the resultant catalytic lifetimes and the elution losses of catalytic components into the organic or extractant layer containing products are within commercially acceptable ranges. To illustrate these points, two examples of applications mn on continuous pilot operation are described (i) biphasic dimerization of olefins catalyzed by nickel complexes in chloroaluminates, and (ii) biphasic alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins and light olefin alkylation with isobutane, catalyzed by acidic chloroaluminates. 

A similar catalytic dimerization system has been investigated [40] in a continuous flow loop reactor in order to study the stability of the ionic liquid solution. The catalyst used is the organometallic nickel(II) complex (Hcod)Ni(hfacac) (Hcod = cyclooct-4-ene-l-yl and hfacac = l,l,l,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato-0,0 ), and the ionic liquid is an acidic chloroaluminate based on the acidic mixture of 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium chloride and aluminium chloride. No alkylaluminium is added, but an organic Lewis base is added to buffer the acidity of the medium. The ionic catalyst solution is introduced into the reactor loop at the beginning of the reaction and the loop is filled with the reactants (total volume 160 mL). The feed enters continuously into the loop and the products are continuously separated in a settler. The overall activity is 18,000 (TON). The selectivity to dimers is in the 98 % range and the selectivity to linear octenes is 52 %. 

The use of acidic chloroaluminates as alternative liquid acid catalysts for the allcy-lation of light olefins with isobutane, for the production of high octane number gasoline blending components, is also a challenge. This reaction has been performed in a continuous flow pilot plant operation at IFP [44] in a reactor vessel similar to that used for dimerization. The feed, a mixture of olefin and isobutane, is pumped continuously into the well stirred reactor containing the ionic liquid catalyst. In the case of ethene, which is less reactive than butene, [pyridinium]Cl/AlCl3 (1 2 molar ratio) ionic liquid proved to be the best candidate (Table 5.3-4). 

Studies on the dimerization and hydrogenation of olefins with transition metal catalysts in acidic chloroaluminate(III) ionic liquids report the formation of higher molecular weight fractions consistent with cationic initiation [L7, 20, 27, 28]. These... 

Another example is butene dimerization catalyzed by nickel complexes in acidic chloroaluminates 14). This reaction has been performed on a continuous basis on the pilot scale by IFF (Difasol process). Relative to the industrial process involving homogeneous catalysis (Dimersol process), the overall yield in dimers is increased. Similarly, selective hydrogenation of diene can be performed in ionic liquids, because the solubility of dienes is higher than that of monoene, which is higher than that of paraffins. In the case of the Difasol process, a reduction of the volume of the reaction section by a factor of up to 40 can be achieved. This new Difasol technology enables lower dimer (e.g., octenes) production costs 14). 

An excellent demonstration of the tunability of ionic liquids for catalysis is provided by an investigation of the dimerization of 1-butene (235). A Ni(cod)(hfacac) catalyst (Scheme 23) was evaluated for the selective dimerization of 1-butene after it was dissolved in various chloroaluminate ionic liquids. Earlier work on this reaction with the same catalyst in toluene led to the observations of low activity and difficult catalyst separation. In ionic liquids of varying acidity, little catalytic activity was found. However, a remarkable activity was achieved by adding a weak buffer base to an acidic ionic liquid. The reaction took place in a biphasic reaction mode with facile catalyst separation and catalyst recycling. A high selectivity to the dimer product was obtained because of a fast extraction of the Cg product from the ionic liquid phase, with the minimization of consecutive reaction to give trimers. Among a number of weak base buffers, a chinoline was chosen. The catalyst performance was compared with that in toluene. The catalyitc TOF at 90°C in toluene was... 

Chloroaluminate-free ionic liquids have been used for dimerization of dienes, as these ionic liquids are more stable and easier to handle than the moisture-sensitive ionic liquid chloroaluminate(III). In one example, a mixture of [BMIM]BF4/water (1 1 v/v) was used as the medium in the hydrodimerization of 1,3-butadiene catalyzed by [BMIM]2 PdCl4] (237). In addition to the dimer, 1,3,6-octatriene and 2,7-octadienol were produced. However, by using PdCl2/PPh3 as a catalyst in [BMIMJPC] (X = BF4, PFe, CF3SO3), the dimer, 1,3,6-octatriene, was obtained exclusively (238). 

Scheme 5.2-21 Ni-catalyzed, diphasic, linear dimerization in a slightly acidic, buffered chloroaluminate ionic liquid.

Dupont and co-workers studied the Pd-catalyzed dimerization [108] and cyclodimerization [109] of butadiene in non-chloroaluminate ionic liquids. The biphasic dimerization of butadiene is an attractive research goal since the products formed, 1,3,5-octatriene and 1,3,6-octatriene, are sensitive towards undesired polymerization, so that separation by distillation is usually not possible. These octa-trienes are of some commercial relevance as intermediates for the synthesis of fragrances, plasticizers, and adhesives. Through the use of PdCl2 with two equivalents of the ligand PPhj dissolved in [BMIM][Pp6], [BMIM][Bp4], or [BMIM][CF3S03], it was possible to obtain the octatrienes with 100 % selectivity (after 13 % conversion) (Scheme 5.2-23) [108]. The turnover frequency (TOP) was in the range of 50 mol butadiene converted per mol catalyst per hour, which represents a substantial increase in catalyst activity in comparison to the same reaction under otherwise identical conditions (70 °C, 3 h, butadiene/Pd = 1250) in THF (TOP = 6 h ). 

The new Difasol process for manufacturing isooctenes consumes less catalyst. The process dimerizes n-butene in a continuous two-phase operation that uses the industrial Dimersol nickel catalyst dissolved in a chloroaluminate ionic liquid. The n-bu-tenes are introduced continuously into the reactor, and the products are only poorly miscible with ionic liquid, and separate in settler. The process shows 70-80% conversion with 90-95% selectivity (Freemantle, 1998). 

An analogous technology commercialized by IFP, Paris, is their continuous, chloroaluminate ionic liquid dimerization of //-butene to isooctane, promoted by a Ziegler-Natta-type homogeneous catalyst. The poorly miscible isooctane product is readily separated. 

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