Synthesis, crystal structure, and olefin oligomerization activity of neutral arylnickel(II) phosphine catalyst with 2-oxazolinylphenolato N–O chelate ligand

A novel neutral arylnickel(II) phosphine complex 1 bearing 2-oxazolinylphenolato ligand is synthesized by the reaction of trans-Ni(Ph)(Cl)(PPh3)2 with 2-(4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl)phenol in the presence of NEt3, and the molecular structure is determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Complex 1 exhibits high activity and selectivity in catalyzing olefin oligomerization when various organoaluminum cocatalysts or Ni(COD)2 are used (TOF values up to 507 kg oligomers/(mol Ni · h)).