Borenium Ionic Liquids as Alternative to BF₃ in Polyalphaolefins (PAOs) Synthesis

Abstract

Lewis superacidic borenium ionic liquids of the general formula [BCl2(L)][MnCl3n+1] (L = pyridine or picoline, n = 1 or 2) were used as catalysts for the oligomerization of 1-decene to polyalphaolefins (PAOs), as a safer alternative to the conventional BF3 catalyst, which is a toxic and corrosive gas. The catalytic activity of the borenium system could be tuned by modifying the ligand on the borenium cation, the chlorometallate anion and the reaction temperature. Following the optimization of the reaction conditions on small scale, the reaction was scaled up to 3 L. Following fractional distillation of the crude product and blending, lubricant base oils matching market specifications (viscosity index, pour point) for PAO4 and

Preparation of Lubricant Base Stocks with High Viscosity Index through 1-Decene Oligomerization Catalyzed by Alkylaluminum Chloride Promoted by Metal Chloride

“…The columns were calibrated with standard polystyrenes with narrow molar mass distribution. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the oligomers were recorded using a Bruker AVANCE III 400 spectrometer at operating frequencies of 400 and 100 MHz, respectively, and the oligomers were dissolved in CDCl 3 in standard ampoules. The kinematic viscosity (KV) was determined in a classical manner, using an Ubbelohde viscometer, according to ASTM D 445M.…”

“…Poly-α-olefins (PAOs) are becoming increasingly interesting for the application as lubricant base stocks to improve lubrication performance of machines to reduce energy consumption because of their superior lubricating properties with a high viscosity index (VI) and low pour point, compared to mineral base oil. − PAOs are synthesized through α-olefins oligomerization, and the key properties of a PAO are dependent on the structure of the oligomers, such as the side chain length and the degree of polymerization . In general, a long linear main chain is favorable to improve VI but unfavorable for the low pour point.…”

Ancillary ligand effects on α-olefin polymerization catalyzed by zirconium metallocene: a computational study

“…Synthetic base stocks can be used to prepare all kinds of high-grade lubricating grease products. [1][2][3] PAO synthetic base oil plays a key role in cutting-edge technology elds such as the aerospace and military industries. It is also the key raw material in the production of high-grade lubricating oil used in advanced automobile, wind power, high-speed railway, intelligent manufacturing, and other industries.…”

α-Olefin Trimerization for Lubricant Base Oils with Modified Chevron–Phillips Ethylene Trimerization Catalysts

“…Lubricant base oils are classified into five groups: groups I–III are obtained directly from petroleum refinery; group IV is synthetic hydrocarbons; and group V contains all other types. group IV base oils are synthesized through the oligomerization of α-olefins (typically, cationic oligomerization of 1-decene) and called poly­(α-olefin)­s (PAOs). − With high viscosity indices (VI >120) and outstanding oxidative stabilities, PAOs are treated as top-tier base oils and produced at a global annual scale of approximately 600,000 tons. , In the cationic oligomerization, a range of n -mers (such as a dimer, a trimer, or a tetramer) are simultaneously generated with a Shulz–Flory distribution, which are fractionated by energy-intensive distillation. Moreover, severe skeleton rearrangement generates many methyl groups along the carbon chains, resulting in the deterioration of oxidative stability .…”