Selective Dimerization of Propylene with Ni-MFU-4l

We report the selective dimerization of propylene to branched hexenes using Ni-MFU-4l, a solid catalyst prepared by cation exchange. Analysis of the resulting product distribution demonstrates that the selectivity arises from 2,1-insertion and slow product reinsertion, mechanistic features reproduced by a molecular nickel tris-pyrazolylborate catalyst. Characterization of Ni-MFU-4l by X-ray absorption spectroscopy provides evidence for discrete, tris-pyrazolylborate-like coordination of nickel, underscoring the small-molecule analogy that can be made at metal-organic framework nodes.