Hydrogen bond activation strategy for cyclic carbonates synthesis from epoxides and CO2: current state-of-the art of catalyst development and reaction analysis

• Published in: Catalysis reviews. Science and engineering Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 214 - 269
• Main Authors: Liu, Mengshuai, Wang, Xin, Jiang, Yichen, Sun, Jianmin, Arai, Masahiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Taylor & Francis 03.04.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Carbonates; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemical synthesis; cyclic carbonate; Cycloaddition; Emission analysis; Emissions control; epoxide; hydrogen bond; Hydrogen bonds; ionic liquid; Organic chemistry; Organic compounds; reaction mechanism; Reaction mechanisms
• ISSN: 0161-4940; 1520-5703
• DOI: 10.1080/01614940.2018.1550243

Chemical fixation of CO 2 into useful organic compounds has been attracting much attention from the viewpoint of CO 2 emission reduction and energy structure reformation. A useful and widely investigated chemical utilization of CO 2 is the cycloaddition of CO 2 to epoxides for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates. Efforts have been paid to the design and preparation of various catalyst systems that are active and selective to the production of the desired products under mild conditions and in green processes. This article is to review the current state of the catalyst development and the experimental and theoretical analysis of reaction mechanism for the cyclic carbonate synthesis from epoxides, one of currently important reactions involving CO 2 as a reactant with 100% atom economy. Particular attention is given to the catalysis of multifunctional catalyst systems such as metal- and hydrogen-bond donor (HBD)-based catalysts. The article reviews the catalyst development, the experimental and theoretical analysis of reaction mechanism for the cyclic carbonate synthesis from CO 2 and epoxides.