Claims
- 1. An olefin oligomerisation process for converting an olefin to a longer chain hydrocarbon, the process comprising the steps of:
providing a catalyst system comprising a non-nickel transition metal derived catalyst and an ionic liquid; and converting an olefin to a longer chain hydrocarbon in the presence of the catalyst system at a reaction temperature of between 10° C. and 130° C. and a reaction pressure of up to 100 Bar.
- 2. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of converting the olefin to the longer chain hydrocarbon comprises trimerising the olefin.
- 3. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a non-aqueous ionic liquid.
- 4. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a poorly coordinating ion, such that the ionic liquid comprises a highly polar yet non-coordinating solvent.
- 5. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalyst system further comprises an organic solvent, and wherein the ionic liquid is immiscible with the organic solvent, such that the catalyst system comprises a non-aqueous, polar two-phase catalyst system.
- 6. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of organic halides, imidazolines, alkylsubstituted imidazolines, pyridiniums, alkyl-substituted pyridiniums, sulfoniums, alkylsulfoniums, phosphoniums, and alkyl-substituted phosphoniums.
- 7. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid comprises an anion selected from the group consisting of:
anions of the formula RnMX3-n wherein:
R is a C1-C6 alkyl radical or iso-alkyl radical; M is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, gallium, boron, and iron (III), wherein if M is aluminium, n is three; X is a halogen atom; and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, anions of the formula RmM2X6-m wherein:
R is a C1-C6 alkyl radical or iso-alkyl radical; M is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, gallium, boron, and iron (III), wherein if M is aluminium, m is three; X is a halogen atom; and m is 1, 2 or 3, anions of the formula M(OTeF5)nm− wherein:
M is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pd; n is either 4 or 6; and m is either 1 or 2, B(p-C6H4F)4−, B(C6F5)4−, B(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)4−), PH3BCNBPh3−, 1-carba-closo-dodecacarborate (CB11H12−), derivatives of 1-carba-closo-dodecacarborate (CB11H12−), 12-CB11H11Cl−, 12-CB11H11Br, 12-CB11H11I−, 12-CB11H11(C6F5)−, 7,12-CB11H10, 7,12-CB11H10Br2, 7,12-CB11H10I2, 7,8,9,10,12-CB11H7C15, 7,8,9,10,11,12-CB11H6C16), pentafluorooxotellurate (OTeF5), derivatives of pentafluorooxotellurate (OTeF5) PW12O403−, derivatives of PW12O403−, HC(SO2CF3)2−, derivatives of HC(SO2CF3)2−, the fulleride ion C60−, the borate anion B(o-C6H4O2)2−, the diborane anion H(1,8-(BMe2)2c10H6)−, alkylaluminium compounds, triethyaluminium, alkylaluminoxanes, ismethylaluminoxane, borate anions, B(C6F5)4−, tin halides, germanium halides, BF4−, SbF6−, PF6, FSO3−, CF3SO3−, (CF3SO2)2N−, CF3CO2−,copper chlorides, ammonium chlorides, phosphonium chlorides, tetraphenylborate (BPh4−), and derivatives of tetraphenylborate (BPh4−).
- 8. The oligomerisation process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-nickel transition metal derived catalyst comprises a chromium derived catalyst, the chromium derived catalyst comprising a chromium source present in an amount of between 0.1 mmole per liter solvent and 10 mmole per liter solvent.
- 9. A trimerisation process for the trimerisation of olefins having from 2 to 20 carbons, the process comprising the step of:
providing a trimerisation catalyst system which comprises an ionic liquid as a solvent, a co-solvent, or an activator; and a first component selected from the group consisting of a chromium source, a pyrrole-containing compound, and mixtures thereof, wherein the chromium source, if present, is present in an amount of between 0.1 mmole per liter solvent and 10 mmole per liter solvent, and wherein the pyrrole-containing compound, if present, is present in an amount of between 0.1 mmole per liter solvent and 100 mmole per liter solvent; and trimerising an olefin in the presence of the trimerisation catalyst system at a reaction temperature of between 10° C. and 130° C. and a reaction pressure of up to 100 Bar.
- 10. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first component comprises a chromium source, and the catalyst system further comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of a metal alkyl, a halogen source, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, wherein the metal alkyl, if present, is present in an amount of from 3 to 50 equivalents with respect to the chromium source, and wherein the halogen source, if present, is present in an amount from 1 to 20 equivalents with respect to the chromium source.
- 11. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the chromium source is selected from the group consisting of:
a compound expressed by the general formula CrXn wherein:
n is an integer from 0 to 6; X is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of:
an organic radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the organic radical is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, ester, ketone and amido, an inorganic radical selected from the group consisting of halides, nitrates, and sulphates, an amine compound, a phosphine compound, a phosphine oxide compound, a nitrosyl group, and an ether compound.
- 12. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chromium source comprises a chromium compound selected from the group consisting of chromium(III)acetylacetonate, chromium (III) acetate, chromium (III) pyrrolide, chromium (III) 2,2,6,6,tetramethylheptadionate, chromium (III) tris(2-ethylhexanoate), bis(N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinato) chromium (III) chloride, trichlorotris(4-isopropylpyridine) chromium (III), trichloro (N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) chromium (III) chloride, bis-(2-dimethylphosphino-ethyl)ethylphosphine chromium (III), (2-dimethylphosphino-ethyl)(3-dimethylphosphinopropyl)methylphosphine chromium (III) chromium (III) naphthenate, chromium (II) acetate, chromium (II) pyrrolides, chromium (II) bis(2-ethylhexanoate), and chromium (II) chloride.
- 13. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pyrrole-containing compound comprises pyrrole or a pyrrole derivative, wherein the pyrrole derivative is selected from the group consisting of substituted pyrrolides, heteroleptic metal pyrrolide complexes, homoleptic metal pyrrolide complexes, and salts and isotopes thereof.
- 14. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pyrrole-containing compound has from about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms, and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen pyrrolide (pyrrole), sodium pyrrolide, lithium pyrrolide, potassium pyrrolide, caesium pyrrolide, chromium (III) pyrrolides, aluminium-diethyl-pyrrolide, ethyl-aluminium-dipyrrolide, aluminium-tripyrrolide, 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, 3,4-dimethylpyrrole, 3,4-dichloro pyrrole, indole, imidazole, 2-acyl-pyrrole, pyrrolidine, and pyrrole derivatives having a hydrocarbon group bonded to the pyrrole ring.
- 15. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the catalyst system comprises a metal alkyl selected from the group consisting of heteroleptic metal alkyl compounds and homoleptic metal alkyl compounds; wherein the homoleptic metal alkyl compounds are selected from the group consisting of alkyl aluminium compounds, hydrolysed alkyl aluminium compounds, aluminoxanes, alkyl boron compounds, alkyl magnesium compounds, alkyl zinc compounds, alkyl lithium compounds, alkyl aluminium compounds having the formula:
AlXnR3-n wherein:
n is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3; R is an alkyl group; and X is a halogen atom, and alkyl aluminium compounds having the formula: RnAlOR3-n wherein:
n is an integer selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3; R is an alkyl group; and X is a halogen atom.
- 16. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the catalyst system comprises a halogen source selected from the group consisting of:
compounds with the general formula of LmRnXp, wherein:
L comprises a cation comprising an element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to the 1-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 6-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 8-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 9-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 10-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 11-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 13-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 15-Group of the Periodic Table, and elements belonging to the 17-Group of the Periodic Table; R is selected from the group consisting of an organic radical having from 1 to 70 carbon atoms and an inorganic radical, wherein the inorganic radical comprises an element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to the 3-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 4-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 6-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 13-Group of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to the 14-Group of the Periodic Table, and elements belonging to the 15-Groups of the Periodic Table; X is a halide selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide; m is an integer ranging from 0 to 2; p is any integer greater than 0; and n is any integer, the chromium source, the metal alkyl, and the ionic liquid.
- 17. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 16, wherein n is an integer less than 100.
- 18. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 16, wherein the halogen source is selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, chloroform, 1-bromobutane, 1,4-dibromobutane, 1,1,1-trichlorethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, hexachloroethane, hexachloro-benzene, 1,2,3-trichloro-cyclopropane, 1,2,3-trichlorocyclopentane, zirconium tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride, silane tetrachloride, tin tertachloride, aluminium trichloride, boron trichloride, germanium tetrachloride, diethyl aluminium chloride, diethyl aluminium bromide, ethyl aluminium dichloride, 1-chloro-2-butene, allylchloride, tris (pentaflurophenyl)boron, potassium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, potassium tetrafluoroaluminate, potassium tetrachloraluminate potassium tetrafluoroborate, tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate, and potassium tetrachloroborate.
- 19. The trimerisation process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the catalyst system comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene, 1-hexene, 1,3-butadiene, 1,4-cyclo-octadiene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, fluorobenzene, and cyclohexane.
- 20. A process for producing a polyalphaolefin lubricant, the process comprising the steps of:
providing a trimerisation catalyst system comprising an ionic liquid as solvent, co-solvent, or activator; and a component selected from the group consisting of a chromium source, a pyrrole-containing compound, and mixtures thereof, wherein the chromium source, if present, is present in an amount of between 0.1 mmole per liter solvent and 10 mmole per liter solvent, and wherein the pyrrole-containing compound, if present, is present in an amount of between 0.1 mmole per liter solvent and 100 mmole per liter solvent; and trimerising an olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons in the presence of the trimerisation catalyst at a reaction temperature of between 10° C. and 130° C. and a reaction pressure of up to 100 Bar, thereby producing a polyalphaolefin lubricant.
- 21. A process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the olefin has from 5 to 15 carbons.
- 22. A process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the olefin comprises 1-decene and wherein the lubricant has a viscosity index of at least 130.
- 23. A process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the olefin comprises a Fischer-Tropsch olefin.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99/7340 |
Nov 1999 |
ZA |
|
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of International Patent Application No. PCT/ZA00/00233, filed on Nov. 24, 2000, under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which was published by the International Bureau in English on May 31, 2001, which designates the U.S. and claims the benefit of South African Provisional Patent Application No. 99/7340, filed Nov. 26, 1999, and United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/167,616, filed Nov. 26, 1999.