Studies of Catalytic Activity of New Nickel(II) Compounds Containing Pyridine Carboxylic Acids Ligands in Oligomerization Processes of Selected Olefins and Cyclohexyl Isocyanide

Catalysts based on nickel(II) ions, due to their high reactivity and easiness of ligand modification, are among the most widely used catalytic systems in the world, with applications in a variety of catalytic processes. Here we present research that led to the synthesis of new nickel(II) complex compounds containing nicotinic and isonicotinic acid ligands. Their catalytic properties have been studied in oligomerization processes of olefins and isocyanides and the obtained oligomers were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine their physicochemical properties. The catalytic activity values achieved in the oligomerization of olefins, only in a few cases reached above 100 g·mmol−1·h−1·bar−1. However, the newly obtained catalytic systems showed very high (99%) and moderate (36%) efficiency in the oligomerization of cyclohexyl isocyanide. The conducted studies provide knowledge about the influence of modification of the main ligand and reaction conditions on the values of catalytic activity, process yields, as well as physicochemical properties of the obtained oligomers. Furthermore, it was possible to determine which of the processes carried out using the newly synthesized catalytic systems achieve better results and in which process they should be further used and developed.