Patent ID: 7902415

Claim:
A process for dimerizing alpha olefins comprising: a) contacting (i) an alpha olefin having at least 3 carbon atoms, (ii) a hexadentate bimetallic catalyst, and (iii) a cocatalyst, wherein the hexadentate bimetallic complex has the following structure, and wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are hydrogen; R 4 and R 5 are each independently an alkyl group; R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are each hydrogen; R A , R B , R C , and R D are each independently an alkyl group; Y 2 is a bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and MX n represents a metal compound where M is iron, X is a halide or acetonate; and n is 2 or 3; and b) dimerizing the alpha olefin in a reaction zone at conditions effective to dimerize an alpha olefin to form a reaction zone effluent comprising alpha olefin oligomers including alpha olefin dimers, wherein greater than 40 weight percent of the alpha olefin has been converted to alpha olefin oligomers and the alpha olefin oligomers comprise greater than 75 weight percent alpha olefin dimers.