In this paper a novel ligand of the type [PNPNH] is presented for the application in a new homogeneous highly selective ethene trimerization system for the formation of 1‐hexene, which consists of the chromium source CrCl3(thf)3, the ligand Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)H (1), and Et3Al as an activator in toluene. The excellent characteristics of this new system, e.g. very high selectivity to C6 with highest purity of the C6 fraction (>99 % 1‐hexene), activity on a constant level on a long timescale, use of small amounts of Et3Al as a cheap activator, and only very low production of PE, make it to a hot candidate for industrial application. Its organometallic background gives an indication of the nature of the active catalyst species.

An alternative concept for the selective catalytic formation of 1-octene from ethylene via dimeric catalytic centers is proposed. The selectivity of the tetramerization systems depends on the capability of ligands to form binuclear complexes that subsequently build up and couple two separate metallacyclopentanes to form 1-octene selectively. Comparison of existing catalytic processes, the ability of the bis(diarylphosphino)amine (PNP) ligand to bridge two metal centers, and the experimental background support the proposed binuclear mechanism for ethylene tetramerization.

The syntheses of novel bulky N-substituted 1,3-benzazaphospholes are presented, together with their reactions with tert-butyllithium and coupling with tBu 2PCl to novel P, P'-hybrid ligands that combine the highly basic and bulky di- tert-butylphosphanyl group with pi-acidic low-coordinated phosphorus. The syntheses start with the preparation of new N-secondary 2-bromoanilines 1 by reduction of N-acyl 2-bromoanilides or more generally by Pd-catalyzed selective monoamination of o-dibromobenzene, followed by Pd-catalyzed C-P coupling with P(OEt) 3 to the respective 2-anilino-phosphonates 2. The next steps are reduction to 2-phosphanylanilines 3 and condensation with Me 2NCH(OMe) 2, which leads via phosphaalkenes 4 to the corresponding N-substituted benzazaphospholes 5. The reaction with tBuLi depends on the steric demand of the N substituent. Methyl, neopentyl-, and mesityl-derivatives were converted to P=C Li species 6 and coupled with tBu 2PCl to novel P=C-P tBu 2 ligands 7, whereas N-adamantyl and N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl-derivatives prefer addition of tBuLi at the PC bond to form dihydroderivatives. The chemical shifts of the low-coordinated phosphorus of 5 and 7 were found to reflect electronic and steric effects of the N substituents. The comparison of the crystal structures of N-neopentyl-1,3-benzazaphospholes 5 and 7 gives evidence of steric repulsion between the adjacent di- tert-butyl and neopentyl groups by the preferred anti orientation of the P- tert-butyl groups and moderate deviations of C2 and P3 of 7b from the ring plane.

Different organometallic compounds of the new aminodiphosphinoamine ligand Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)-H (1) are reported that are relevant model complexes for the selective ethene trimerization system consisting of ligand 1, CrCl3(THF)3, and Et3Al that produces 1-hexene in more than 90% yield and high purity. The lithiation of 1 by n-BuLi in the presence of tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) yields the mononuclear compound Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)-][Li(tmeda)] (2). Without using tmeda the dinuclear species [Ph2N(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)-Li]2 (3) was obtained. By addition of a Grignard reagent to the ligand solution the bis(aminodiphosphinoamide)magnesium complex [Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)-]2Mg (4) could be isolated. Reaction of Li[CpCrCl3] with 3 leads to the formation of the model compound CpCrCl[-N(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)PPh2] (5), which can be alkylated with Na[Et4Al] to form the corresponding ethyl compound CpCrEt[-N(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)PPh2] (7). In THF the formation of EtCrCl2(THF)3 (8) directly from the reaction of CrCl3[Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)N(iPr)-H](THF) (6) with Et3Al could be observed. The organometallic chemistry of 1 gives hints on possible species and activation mechanisms in the catalysis, which have to be considered for a better understanding of the catalytic system.