Role of Water in the Catalysis of Ethylene Di- and Oligomerization and Toluene Alkylation Reactions Based on Nickel Bis(Acetylacetonate) Systems

It is established that the turnover frequency and number of Ni(acac)₂–50Et₂AlCl or Ni(acac)₂–50Et₂AlCl · EtAlCl₂-based systems in ethylene oligomerization processes depend on the concentration of the water in toluene. The possibility of the alkylation of toluene, used as a solvent under the considered reaction condition, is shown. The main reactions describing the role of water at the stage of the formation and functioning of catalytically active hydride nickel complexes are proposed.