Metal-organic framework-based composite Ni@MOF as Heterogenous catalyst for ethylene trimerization

MIL-125(Ti)-NH2 has been post-synthetically modified by reaction of pyridine with the terephthalate amino groups to form pyridine-imine that act as ligands of nickel(II). [email protected] showed moderate catalytic activity and high selectivity to low carbon olefins C4 and C6. Upon activation with MAO, the catalytic activity could achieve 1.81 × 105 g/mol Ni h, and the selectivity toward C6 was about 76.7 %, of which the 1-C6= occupied 91.5 % under the reaction condition of 50 °C, 1.0 MPa, Al/Ni = 800. Compared with homogenous pyridine-imine nickel complex, the selectivity toward C6 of [email protected] composite was greatly enhanced, which could be attributed to confinement effect of pore wall of MOF structure. Moreover, the [email protected] could be reused for at least two more catalytic runs without significant loss of activity or selectivity, indicating [email protected] had good catalytic stability and recyclability. A possible ethylene oligomerization mechanistic pathway involving reaction intermediates is proposed based on the Cossee mechanism.