Synthesis and structure of titanium complexes with phosphonium-bisphenolate ligands "{P+[O2]}H2" and their catalytic trimerization of 1-octene.

A methylaluminoxane-activated titanium complex catalyzed the selective trimerization of 1-octene in bulk or benzene, exhibiting a trimer selectivity that exceeded 80%. The selective trimerization of 1-octene catalyzed by this complex catalyst with a monoanionic phosphonium-bisphenolate ligand demonstrated catalytic activity comparable to that of previously reported complexes with monoanionic tridentate ligands.