Fluorinated alcohols as activators for the solvent-free chemical fixation of carbon dioxide into epoxides

Abstract

The addition of fluorinated alcohols to onium salts provides highly efficient organocatalysts for the chemical fixation of CO2 into epoxides under mild experimental conditions. The combination of online kinetic studies, NMR titrations and DFT calculations allows understanding this synergistic effect that provides an active organocatalyst for CO2/epoxides coupling. Lockdown: The addition of hydrogen-bond donors with hexafluoroalcohol functionalities to onium salts provides highly efficient bicomponent organocatalysts for the fast and selective chemical fixation of CO2 into epoxides under mild and solvent-free experimental conditions. Online kinetic studies under pressure combined with NMR titrations and DFT calculations allow to understand the synergistic effect responsible for the remarkable catalytic activity of the organocatalyst.