Ethene trimerization at CrI/CrIII - A density functional theory (DFT) study1

Catalytic ethene trimerization at a chromium(I) indolate-AlR2Cl centre has been studied by density functional theory (DFT) methods. The reaction is found to follow the standard metallacycle mechanism. At most stages of the reaction, coordination of Cr to the pyrrole ring of the indolate is preferred. In all 13-e intermediates, coordination of the Al-bound chloride to Cr provides additional stabilization: the chloride behaves as a hemilabile ligand. Benzene is found to compete with ethene for coordination to Cr-I. The final hexene-forming step involves direct C beta -> C alpha' hydrogen transfer; reductive elimination from a possible (hydride)(hexenyl) intermediate is more difficult. The kinetic isotope effect calculated for the direct hydrogen transfer (4.1) agrees well with the experimental value for a bis(phosphino)amide chromium catalyst. Side products obtained in such systems (methylenecyclopentane, methylcyclopentane) can plausibly be explained through routes not involving any (hydride)(alkyl) reductive elimination. Our results indicate that a Cr-I/Cr-III trimerization cycle is possible for some chromium trimerization catalysts, and also suggest that direct hydrogen transfer is most likely a general feature of trimerization at Cr centres.