| abstract |
Disclosed is a process for the production of chemical intermediates by the cross dimerization of two compounds containing carbon-carbon double bonds, wherein said process is catalyzed by a nickel II catalyst which is a complex with eta 3 carbon-based allyl or substituted allyl, trisubstituted phosphine, and a weakly coordinating ligand. This catalyst may be used to selectively cross-dimerizes ethylene and methyl acrylate to give methyl 4-pentenoate, a nylon 6,6 intermediate. |