Catalytic Processes for Chemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Cyclic Carbonates and Polycarbonates

Abstract

Chemical fixation of CO 2 has received much attention because CO 2 is the most inexpensive and renewable car-bon resource from the viewpoint of green chemistry and atom economy. The kinetic and thermodynamic stability of CO 2 molecule presents significant challenges in designing efficient chemical transformations based on this potential feedstock. Currently, cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates are both valuable products, and the coupling of CO 2 and epoxides is one of the most promising and eco-friendly methods for chemical conversion of CO 2 into cyclic carbonates and/or polycar-bonates. In this review, we will mainly discuss the synthesis of polycarbonates or cyclic carbonates catalyzed by metal-salen complexes through adjusting the architecture of the ligands and optimizing reaction conditions, such as temperature, pressure, co-catalysts, epoxide concentration. Furthermore, the recent progress for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates via the coupling reactions of epoxides and CO 2 mediated by both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts is particularly reviewed.