Selective Metathesis of α-Olefins from Bio-Sourced Fischer–Tropsch Feeds

by Mathieu Rouen, Pierre Queval, Etienne Borré, Laura Falivene, Albert Poater, et.al.
Year: 2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6b01428

Extra Information

ACS Catal.

Abstract

The search for a low-cost process for the valorization of linear α-olefins combining high productivity and high selectivity is a longstanding goal for chemists. Herein, we report a soluble ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst that performs the conversion of linear α-olefins to longer internal linear olefins with high selectivity (>99%) under neat conditions at low loadings (50 ppm) and without the need of expensive additives. This robust catalytic process allowed us to efficiently and selectively re-equilibrate the naphtha fraction (C5–C8) of a Fischer–Tropsch feed derived from non-petroleum resources to a higher-value product range (C9–C14), useful as detergent and plasticizer precursors.


Keywords

Olefin metathesis Ruthenium unsymmetrical NHC Fischer−Tropsch feeds isomerization selectivity