Understanding the role of aluminum-based activators in single site iron catalysts for ethylene oligomerization

Abstract In a combined experimental and theoretical study, the activation process of a single site ethylene oligomerization catalyst with aluminum-based activators has been studied. The results put forward a plausible deactivation reaction path of the catalyst for trimethylaluminum, while for methylaluminoxane and a novel phenoxyaluminum-based activator, the experimental catalyst’s activity correlates with the energy barrier for the ethylene insertion.