Abstract: Inorganic and organic impurities are removed from a metallocene catalyst compound comprising the steps of (a) separating inorganic impurities from said compound by forming a solution of said compound in an organic solvent medium which is substantially a non-solvent for said inorganic impurities, (b) treating the solution of said compound with a particulate absorbing material so as to absorb and remove organic impurities from said solution, and (c) separating the solid material, including said particulate absorbing material, from said solution. Optionally, water can be removed by adding a drying agent.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering pentafluorophenyl metal or metalloid compounds prepared by reacting pentafluoromagnesium halides with a metal or metalloid halide in ether solutions uses a precipitating agent such as an ether to precipitate the by-products from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A racemic mixture of a chiral, silicon bridged transition metal metallocene, which is substantially free of meso isomer, is precipitated directly from a reaction mixture as it is formed by reacting an organic solvent solution of an alkali metal salt of a silicon bridged ligand with a transition metal tetrahalide-ether complex.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a transition metal compound of the formula: (RC.sub.5 H.sub.4).sub.2 MX.sub.2, where R is hydrocarbyl or silahydrocarbyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, M is titanium or zirconium and X is halogen. The process comprises the steps of:(a) reacting Na(C.sub.5 H.sub.5) with RX, where R and X are as defined above, in an organic solvent so as to form a reaction product mixture which includes RC.sub.5 H.sub.4 and C.sub.5 H.sub.5 ;(b) vacuum stripping the product mixture at ambient temperatures so as to remove substantially all of said C.sub.5 H.sub.5 from said product mixture;(c) deprotonating the RC.sub.5 H.sub.4 ; and(d) adding MX.sub.4, where M and X are as defined above, to the product mixture so as to react the RC.sub.5 H.sub.4 and the MX.sub.4 and form said transition metal compound, the transition metal compound being substantially free of C.sub.5 H.sub.5 containing impurities.

Abstract: Linear 1-olefins are prepared from internal olefins by (i) reacting them in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and a tri-lower alkyl aluminum so as to cause internal olefin to isomerize to 1-olefins which displace the lower alkyl groups to form a trialkyl aluminum compound in which at least one of the alkyl groups is a linear alkyl derived from the 1-olefin, and, thereafter, (ii) reacting the trialkyl aluminum compound with a 1-olefin so as to displace the linear alkyl from the trialkyl aluminum compound, thereby forming a linear 1-olefin product which is substantially free of internal olefins.

Abstract: Linear 1-olefins are prepared from internal olefins by (i) reacting them in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and a tri-lower alkyl aluminum so as to cause the internal olefin to isomerize to 1-olefins which displace the lower alkyl groups to form a trialkyl aluminum compound in which at least one of the alkyl groups is a linear alkyl derived from the 1-olefin, and, thereafter, (ii) reacting the trialkyl aluminum compound with a 1-olefin so as to displace the linear alkyl from the trialkyl aluminum compound, thereby forming a linear 1-olefin product which is substantially free of internal olefins.

Abstract: Improved methods for producing silanes using phosphorous rhodium dimer catalysts.

Abstract: Alkyl groups in trialkyl aluminum are displaced by .alpha.-olefins in the presence of a nickel catalyst. The displaced alkyl group evolve as .alpha.-olefins. The displacement is fast and the catalyst is then poisoned with a catalyst poison such as lead to prevent undesired side reactions such as isomerization of .alpha.-olefins to internal olefins or dimerization to vinylidene olefins.

Abstract: Described are novel bimetallic complexes particularly useful as homogeneous catalysts for the metathesis of alkynes and metathesizable functionally substituted alkynes, and methods for the preparation of such complexes. The complexes are formed from (i) a Group VI-B metal compound having (a) quadruple metal to metal bonds between a pair of Group VI-B metal atoms at least one of which has an atomic number above 24, and (b) four monovalent anions with a k.sub.A greater than 10.sup.-14, and (ii) a Group III-A phenoxide, a Group III-A alkoxide or a Group IV-B metal alkoxide. Displacement of two of the anions appears to occur during formation of the complex. Usually the complexes can be produced very easily and quickly. All that is required is to establish intimate contact between components (i) and (ii), preferably in an innocuous liquid organic solvent. Addition of a small amount of a nitrile gives a faster and cleaner reaction. In some cases use of slightly elevated temperatures is desirable.

Abstract: Described are novel bimetallic complexes particularly useful as homogeneous catalysts for the metathesis of alkynes and metathesizable functionally substituted alkynes, and methods for the preparation of such complexes. The complexes are formed from (i) a Group VI-B metal compound having (a) quadruple metal to metal bonds between a pair of Group VI-B metal atoms at least one of which has an atomic number above 24, and (b) four monovalent anions with a k.sub.A greater than 10.sup.-14, and (ii) a Group III-A phenoxide, a Group III-A alkoxide or a Group IV-B metal alkoxide. Displacement of two of the anions appears to occur during formation of the complex. Usually the complexes can be produced very easily and quickly. All that is required is to establish intimate contact between components (i) and (ii), preferably in an innocuous liquid organic solvent. Addition of a small amount of a nitrile gives a faster and cleaner reaction. In some cases use of slightly elevated temperatures is desirable.

Abstract: Described are novel bimetallic complexes particularly useful as homogeneous catalysts for the metathesis of alkynes, and methods for the preparation of such complexes. The complexes are formed from (i) a dirhenium halide having (a) a double or triple bond between a pair of rhenium atoms, and (b) a bis(dihydrocarbylphosphino)alkane coordinated therewith, and (ii) a Group III-A alkoxide in which the alkoxy groups are perfluorinated or are substantially perfluorinated. The complexes can be produced very easily and quickly. All that is required is to establish intimate contact between components (i) and (ii), preferably in an innocuous liquid organic solvent. 3-Heptyne was metathesized in good yields by means of the complex formed from Re.sub.2 Cl.sub.4 (dppm).sub.2 and Al(OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2).sub.3, and the complex formed from Re.sub.2 Cl.sub.6 (dppm).sub.2 and Al(OCH(CF.sub.3).sub.2).sub.3 (dppm=bis(diphenylphosphino))methane).

Abstract: A method of making aluminum alkyls utilizing an uncatalyzed exchange reaction wherein an aluminum trialkyl is reacted with an alkyl iodide in which the alkyl group differs from at least one of the alkyl groups of the aluminum trialkyl to form an aluminum trialkyl having the alkyl radical of the alkyl iodide reactant and an alkyl iodide having the alkyl radical of the aluminum trialkyl reactant. In particular, triethyl aluminum is reacted with methyl iodide to form trimethylaluminum and ethyl iodide. Aralkyl groups may be substituted for the alkyl groups to produce corresponding aralkyl compounds.

Abstract: A method of making trimethylaluminum wherein an aluminum trialkyl having at least two carbon atoms in the alkyl group is reacted with a methyl halide in the presence of a bismuth catalyst to form trimethylaluminum and an alkyl halide. A hydrocarbon solvent provides increased reaction rates.

Abstract: A method of making trimethylaluminum wherein a trialkylaluminum having at least two carbon atoms in the alkyl group is reacted with a methyl halide in the presence of a vanadium-based catalyst to form trimethylaluminum and an alkyl halide.