Oligomerization of styrenes mediated by cationic allyl nickel complexes containing triphenylstibine or triphenylarsine.

The cationic complexes [Ni(eta(3)-CH(2)C(R)CH(2))(SbPh(3))(3)][BAr'(4)] (R = CH(3), H ; Ar' = 3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)), [Ni(eta(3)-CH(2)C(R)CH(2))(AsPh(3))(2)][BAr'(4)] (R = CH(3), H ), [Ni(eta(3)-CH(2)CHCH(2))(PPh(3))(L)][BAr'(4)] (L = SbPh(3), AsPh(3)), and the neutral derivatives [Ni(eta(3)-CH(2)C(R)CH(2))Br(L)] (L = SbPh(3), R = CH(3), H ; L = AsPh(3), R = CH(3), H ) have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of , , , and have been determined. These complexes are very active catalyst precursors for the low-molecular weight oligomerization of RC(6)H(4)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2) to mainly dimers and trimers of styrene (R = H) or 4-methylstyrene (R = CH(3)). They also catalyse the oligomerization of alpha-methylstyrene to dimers and trimers, or to higher oligomers depending upon the reaction conditions (solvent and temperature). The oligomerization reactions were carried out at 25 degrees C in most cases, in dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane or fluorobenzene, using a olefin/catalyst ratio equal to 2000. The oligomerization products were characterised by means of GPC/SEC.