Separation and purification of olefins using dithiolene complexes

SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF OLEFINS USING DITHIOLENE COMPLEXES 

The authors found that, under mild conditions, the reaction proceeds with simple aliphatic olefins, selectively and reversibly, to form 1 1 adducts. Upon reaction with olefins, the deep purple solution turns light yellow. The 1 1 adducts are formed when an olefin is in the oxidized form, and the bound olefin is released when it is reduced. Fast on-off switching from the higher to lower oxidation state by electrochemical control allows binding and then release of the olefin, thus enabling olefin separation from other components and its purification. The purification makes use of the rapid binding of an olefin by the electrochemically generated neutral dithiole species and the subsequent release of the olefin upon electrochemical reduction of the adduct. In this way, reversible olefin complexation to dithiolene complexes offers a novel approach to olefin separation and purification. 

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