From Propylene to 4-Methyl-1-pentene over K-Cu Supported Catalytically Active Liquid Metal Solutions

The urgent need for branched-chain alpha-olefin (4-methyl-1-pentene) with excellent characteristics promotes the development of efficient catalysts for the selective dimerization of propylene to it. Based on the concept of supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS), the highly efficient K-M/K2CO3 (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) catalysts are prepared by the melting method for the dimerization of propylene. The K-Cu SCALMS catalyst presents highly efficient and excellent selective C-C linkage, as well as limits the isomerization of C6 products. The highest conversion of propylene (64.3 %) with 80.6 % selectivity to 4-methyl-1-pentene with thermodynamic instability is reached at 160 degrees C, 6 MPa and 20 h. Furthermore, the post-reaction K-Cu SCALMS catalyst can be successfully reactivated in the H2 atmosphere. Therefore, it is proposed that it may be achieved the continuous selective dimerization of propylene to 4-methyl-1-pentene over K-Cu SCALMS catalyst by the application of fluidized bed technology. 4-Methyl-1-pentene as a branched chain alpha-olefin can be efficiently synthesized via propylene dimerization on the K-Cu SCALMS catalyst that presents an excellent selective C-C linkage, as well as limits the isomerization of products.image