Abstract: A catalyst precursor composition comprising a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a first ligand having the general formula (I): (R1)(R2)P—X—P(R3)(R4)??(I) where X is a bivalent organic bridging group, R1 and R3 are hydrocarbyl groups, and R2 and R4 are aromatic groups; and c) a second ligand having the general formula (II): (R1?)(R2?)P—X?—P(R3?)(R4?)??(II) where X? is a bridging group containing nitrogen and R1?, R2?, R3? and R4? are hydrocarbyl groups. The present invention also relates to a catalyst system comprising the catalyst precursor composition of the present invention and a cocatalyst.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers, wherein the process comprises contacting at least one olefinic monomer with a catalyst system comprising: a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a ligand having the general formula (I); (R1)2P-X-P(R1)m(R2)n??(I) wherein: X is a bridging group of the formula —N(R3)—; the R1 groups are independently selected from an optionally substituted aromatic group bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and the R2 groups are independently selected from hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups with the proviso that when the group is aromatic it does not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; and c) a cocatalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst precursor composition comprising a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a first ligand having the general formula (I); (R1)(R2)P—X—P(R3)(R4) ??(I) wherein X is a bivalent organic bridging group; R1 and R3 are independently selected from, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups, with the proviso that when R1 and R3 are aromatic groups they do not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; R2 and R4 are independently selected from optionally substituted aromatic groups, each R2 and R4 bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and c) a second ligand having the general formula (II); (R1?)(R2?)P—X?—P(R3?)(R4?) ??(II) wherein X? is a bridging group of the formula —N(R5?)—, wherein R5? is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; and R1?, R2?, R3? and R

Abstract: A transition metal complex which is a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex or a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC?]q complex comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand and M is a transition metal atom; n matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M; X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride; NC? is a non-coordinating anion; and p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M. The transition metal complexes of the present invention, their complexes with non-coordinating anions and catalyst systems containing such complexes have good solubility in non-polar media and chemically inert non-polar solvents especially aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The catalyst systems can be used for a wide range of (co-)oligomerization, polymerization and dimerization reactions.

Abstract: A process for production of higher linear alpha olefins and/or alkyl-branched alpha olefins, which comprises the co-oligomerisation of one or more alpha olefins with ethylene in the presence of a metal catalyst system employing one or more bis-aryliminepyridine MXa complexes and/or one or more [bis-aryliminepyridine MYp.Lb+][NC?]q complexes; and said process is carried out at an ethylene pressure of less than 2.5 MPa.

Abstract: A process for the production of alpha-olefins comprising reacting ethylene under oligomerization conditions in the presence of a mixture comprising: (a) a metal salt based on Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II) or Co(III); (b) a pyridine bis-imine ligand; and (c) a co-catalyst which is the reaction product of water with one or more organometallic aluminium compounds, wherein the one or more organometallic aluminium compounds is selected from: (i) ??-branched compounds of formula (I): Al(CH2—CR1R2—CH2—CR4R5R6)xR3yHz; (ii) ??-branched compounds of formula (II) Al(CH2—CR1R2—CR4R5R6)xR3yHz and mixtures thereof; wherein when the metal salt and the bis-arylimine pyridine ligand are mixed together they are soluble in aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.