Highly Selective Dimerization and Trimerization of Isobutene to Linearly Linked Products by Using Nickel Catalysts

Abstract The unique linear linkage of isobutene to generate highly valuable C 8 precursors for plasticizers is feasible by using special nickel catalysts. (4‐Cyclooctene‐1‐yl)(1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoro‐2,4‐acetylacetonato)nickel and aluminum‐alkyl‐activated nickel acetylacetonates produce isobutene dimers with high selectivities of up to 95 %. Moreover, selectivity for the head‐to‐head products (2,5‐dimethylhexenes) is remarkably high at up to 99 %. Additionally, novel C 12 isobutene trimers are also formed with a very high selectivity of up to 99 % for the linear linkage. The trimer structure (2,5,8‐trimethylnonenes) reflects the stepwise characteristic of the reaction mechanism. Pathways of insertion and activation and the deactivation processes of the catalyst are discussed in detail.