Over the past decade, advances in ethylene oligomerization have witnessed explosive growth of interest from both commercial and academic standpoint, with chromium metal invariably being the metal of preference. A common feature in this literature was the extended long debate regarding the mechanism, metal oxidation states responsible for selectivity and the role of the ligand. This thesis work embarked on the isolation and characterization of new active intermediates called “single component catalysts” (or self activating) to address two important questions: (1) how the catalyst precursors re-arrange upon activation and (2) the real oxidation state of the activated species. Four different ligands systems have been examined for this purpose. The first part is a study on the NPIIIN ligand which can be described as a dynamic and non-spectator ligand. Upon aluminum alkyl activation, a series of single component chromium catalysts for selective ethylene oligomerization and polymerization have been isolated, fully characterized and tested. New selective single component chromium(I) catalysts have also been isolated and tested positively for ethylene trimerization. The second part includes a new series of chromium complexes based on the NPVN ligand. This ligands enabled to obtain the first polymer-free extremely active catalytic system. In both NPN ligand systems, a new activation pathway was discovered by using vinyl Grignard reagent [(CH2=CH)MgCl] as activator and/or reducing agent. The third part explores new modified pyrrole-chromium complexes which were found to be highly active and selective ethylene trimerization catalysts. This part was a continuation of previous work from our lab to complete the mechanistic picture of this highly successful pyrrole-chromium catalyst independently commercialized by Phillips-Chevron and Mitsubishi. Interestingly upon aluminum alkyl treatment, the first example of a Schrock-type chromium ethylidene complex has been isolated and characterized and found to be a potent catalyst for selective ethylene trimerization. Finally, the other ligands introduced in this thesis are new systems called pyridine-SNS and Si-SNS that introduce some modification to the known commercial SNS catalyst (Sasol technology). The introduction of a pyridine ring or a silyl unit in the ligand scaffold has allowed to understand the mechanism of action of this remarkable system.

Over the past decade, advances in ethylene oligomerization have witnessed explosive growth of interest from both commercial and academic standpoint, with chromium metal invariably being the metal of preference. A common feature in this literature was the extended long debate regarding the mechanism, metal oxidation states responsible for selectivity and the role of the ligand. This thesis work embarked on the isolation and characterization of new active intermediates called “single component catalysts” (or self activating) to address two important questions: (1) how the catalyst precursors re-arrange upon activation and (2) the real oxidation state of the activated species. Four different ligands systems have been examined for this purpose. The first part is a study on the NPIIIN ligand which can be described as a dynamic and non-spectator ligand. Upon aluminum alkyl activation, a series of single component chromium catalysts for selective ethylene oligomerization and polymerization have been isolated, fully characterized and tested. New selective single component chromium(I) catalysts have also been isolated and tested positively for ethylene trimerization. The second part includes a new series of chromium complexes based on the NPVN ligand. This ligands enabled to obtain the first polymer-free extremely active catalytic system. In both NPN ligand systems, a new activation pathway was discovered by using vinyl Grignard reagent [(CH2=CH)MgCl] as activator and/or reducing agent. The third part explores new modified pyrrole-chromium complexes which were found to be highly active and selective ethylene trimerization catalysts. This part was a continuation of previous work from our lab to complete the mechanistic picture of this highly successful pyrrole-chromium catalyst independently commercialized by Phillips-Chevron and Mitsubishi. Interestingly upon aluminum alkyl treatment, the first example of a Schrock-type chromium ethylidene complex has been isolated and characterized and found to be a potent catalyst for selective ethylene trimerization. Finally, the other ligands introduced in this thesis are new systems called pyridine-SNS and Si-SNS that introduce some modification to the known commercial SNS catalyst (Sasol technology). The introduction of a pyridine ring or a silyl unit in the ligand scaffold has allowed to understand the mechanism of action of this remarkable system.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Ethylene and propylene are greatly used for their importance as feedstocks for producing useful materials. Due to rise in prices and the demand of ethylene and propylene, the need to increase the selective production of these light olefins is necessary. To achieve this, zeolites, specifically ZSM-5 has been used to investigate catalytic cracking of several types of hydrocarbons for the production of these light olefins. This study focuses on developing hierarchical macro and/or mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites with variable Si/Al ratios. The synthesized materials were then evaluated on their performance via catalytic cracking of hexane, dodecane and tyre derived oil [TDO] to produce light olefins, particularly ethylene and propylene.

Saudi Aramco is investigating the potential use of oxidized disulfide oil (ODSO), a refinery waste, as a solvent to replace water in zeolite preparation for the implication in industrial processes such as Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) aiming to increase propylene production. Utilizing ODSO helps Saudi Aramco reduces its processing costs, creates a value for this solvent and reduces the zeolite synthesis cost. One major concern is the effect ODSO may have on the catalytic performance of the prepared zeolites. This study investigates the catalytic cracking of 1-hexene and 2-methyl-2-butene (2M2B) at various WHSV and temperatures over ZSM-5 catalysts prepared from gels with SiO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ ratios (SAR) of 50 and 25 and various ODSO/water substitutions. Six ODSO-based ZSM-5 catalysts were prepared and characterized in terms of acidity, morphology, and textural properties. The impact of catalyst composition and properties on conversion and selectivity is examined and compared to commercial ZSM-5 catalysts with similar SAR (CBV2314 and CBV5524G). At 477 h$^{-1}$ WHSV, ODSO-based catalysts achieved 80% 1-hexene conversion with 53-60% propylene selectivity, outperforming commercial catalysts (52%). However, 2M2B cracking exhibits slower reaction rates and more oligomerization cracking, resulting in lower conversion (46-61%) and propylene selectivity (22-29%). Notably, MAR- 2-3 (30% ODSO, 50 SAR gel) shows the best performance among the ODSO catalysts in terms of stability and selectivity, with results comparable to the commercial catalysts. We noticed, on the other hand, that ODSO-based catalysts possess larger crystals and higher acid site density compared to the commercial catalysts leading, generally, to a decreased stability. These findings enhance understanding of waste-based zeolites in catalytic cracking processes and guide the development of improved ODSO-based catalysts for petrochemical applications.

In the present study, the problem of optimization of thermal cracker (pyrolysis) operation is discussed. The main objective in thermal cracker optimization is the estimation of the optimal flow rates of different feeds (such as, Gas-oil, Propane, Ethane and Debutanized natural gasoline) to the cracking furnace under the restriction on ethylene and propylene production. Thousands of combinations of feeds are possible. Hence the optimization needs an efficient strategy in searching for the global minimum. The optimization problem consists of maximizing the economic profit subject to a number of equality and inequality constraints. Modelling, simulation and optimal operation via optimization of the thermal cracking reactor has been carried out by gPROMS (general PROcess Modelling System) software. The optimization problem is posed as a Non-Linear Programming problem and using a Successive Quadratic Programming (SQP) method for solving constrained nonlinear optimization problem with high accuracy within gPROMS software. New results have been obtained for the control variables and optimal cost of the cracker in comparison with previous studies.

Optimized methods for the regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of both trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers from E-β-chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters have been developed from previous work done in the Ogilvie lab. These optimized methods have led to the synthesis of trans isomeric enediynes that can be photoisomerized to their respective cis isomers and subsequently undergo microwave-assisted Bergman cycloaromatizations. Furthermore, both cis and trans isomeric enediynes that have propargyl ether substituents have been found to be able to undergo photoactivated Bergman cyclizations without the need for an intermolecular hydrogen donor. A mechanism study has confirmed that the Bergman cyclization products that form without the presence of an intermolecular hydrogen donor undergo a series of 1,5-hydrogen shifts as intermediates. A series of optimizations to these reactions were carried out, in part by utilizing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing functional groups to help stabilize the resulting radicals that form on the intermediates, and thus increase the yield of the associated Bergman cyclization products.

Optimized methods for the regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of both trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers from E-β-chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters have been developed from previous work done in the Ogilvie lab. These optimized methods have led to the synthesis of trans isomeric enediynes that can be photoisomerized to their respective cis isomers and subsequently undergo microwave-assisted Bergman cycloaromatizations. Furthermore, both cis and trans isomeric enediynes that have propargyl ether substituents have been found to be able to undergo photoactivated Bergman cyclizations without the need for an intermolecular hydrogen donor. A mechanism study has confirmed that the Bergman cyclization products that form without the presence of an intermolecular hydrogen donor undergo a series of 1,5-hydrogen shifts as intermediates. A series of optimizations to these reactions were carried out, in part by utilizing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing functional groups to help stabilize the resulting radicals that form on the intermediates, and thus increase the yield of the associated Bergman cyclization products.

Optimized methods for the regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of both trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers from E-β-chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters have been developed from previous work done in the Ogilvie lab. These optimized methods have led to the synthesis of trans isomeric enediynes that can be photoisomerized to their respective cis isomers and subsequently undergo microwave-assisted Bergman cycloaromatizations. Furthermore, both cis and trans isomeric enediynes that have propargyl ether substituents have been found to be able to undergo photoactivated Bergman cyclizations without the need for an intermolecular hydrogen donor. A mechanism study has confirmed that the Bergman cyclization products that form without the presence of an intermolecular hydrogen donor undergo a series of 1,5-hydrogen shifts as intermediates. A series of optimizations to these reactions were carried out, in part by utilizing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing functional groups to help stabilize the resulting radicals that form on the intermediates, and thus increase the yield of the associated Bergman cyclization products.

Optimized methods for the regioselective and stereospecific synthesis of both trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers from E-β-chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters have been developed from previous work done in the Ogilvie lab. These optimized methods have led to the synthesis of trans isomeric enediynes that can be photoisomerized to their respective cis isomers and subsequently undergo microwave-assisted Bergman cycloaromatizations. Furthermore, both cis and trans isomeric enediynes that have propargyl ether substituents have been found to be able to undergo photoactivated Bergman cyclizations without the need for an intermolecular hydrogen donor. A mechanism study has confirmed that the Bergman cyclization products that form without the presence of an intermolecular hydrogen donor undergo a series of 1,5-hydrogen shifts as intermediates. A series of optimizations to these reactions were carried out, in part by utilizing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing functional groups to help stabilize the resulting radicals that form on the intermediates, and thus increase the yield of the associated Bergman cyclization products.

The research presented in this thesis aims to assess the capacity of metal organic frameworks with open metal sites for the separation of olefin mixtures. Chapter 1 provides a background to the field, including industrial separation techniques, metal organic frameworks and their applications and the current state-of-the- art for olefin separation. Chapter 3 describes the experimental techniques used in this research. Ethylene and propylene adsorption and desorption isotherms on Ni-CPO-27 and HKUST-1 at a range of temperatures are presented and compared in Chapter 4, and used to calculate isosteric heats of adsorption at varying coverages using the virial method. These pure component isotherms are used in Chapter 5 to predict selectivities for the separation of binary mixtures using ideal adsorbed solution theory. Temperature programmed desorption is used in Chapter 5 to calculate the enthalpy of desorption using Redhead's method and the heating rate variation method, and the two results are compared. The results presented in Chapters 4 and 5 conclude that propylene/ethylene separation is possible using adsorption onto metal organic frameworks with open metal sites. A new in situ environmental gas cell for single crystal X-ray diffraction is developed in Chapter 6, and the challenges encountered during this development process are discussed. The dehydration of one framework, Co-CPO-27, is studied in detail using the environmental gas cell. A dehydrated structure of HKUST-1, obtained using the gas cell, is presented for the first time. Crystal structures for the complete dehydration-adsorption-delivery cycle for biologically active NO on Co-CPO-27 are presented in Chapter 7, showing the utility of the in situ gas cell for prolonged experiments in multiple different gaseous environments. The crystal structure of NO-loaded Co-CPO-27 improves upon the models suggested in the literature, and the treatment of the dual occupancy of the open metal sites by water and NO is discussed in depth. A crystal structure of CO-loaded Co-CPO-27 is obtained for the first time, and crystal structures of Co-CPO-27 in ethylene and propylene environments are presented.