Process for preparing linear alpha-olefins using zirconium adducts as catalysts

Claim 1

A process for preparing substantially linear alpha-olefins of Mn 70 to about 700 by oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a homogeneous two component catalyst, the first component being an adduct of ZrCl a Br b , where a+b=4 and a or b may be 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of esters, ketones, ethers, amines, nitriles, anhydrides, acid chlorides, amides or aldehydes, said organic compound having up to 30 carbon atoms and the second component being an alkyl metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of R 2 AlX.RAlX 2 , R 3 Al 12 X 3 , R 3 Al and R 2 Zn wherein R is C 1 -C 20 alkyl and X is Cl or Br, the oligomerization being conducted in a reactor vessel at 50° C. to 300° C. at a pressure of about 500 to 5000 psig in a solution of C 2 -C 100 alpha-olefin or a liquid inert solvent which is not reactive with said catalyst and in which said two component catalyst is soluble with the presence of water in the reactor vessel being minimized such that the ratio of moles of zirconium to moles of water is at least 50 to 1 and wherein in said process the Mn of said alpha-olefin is controlled through adjustment of the molar ratio of second component catalyst to first component catalyst, said ratio being within the range of about 1 to 1 to about 50 to 1.