Effects of Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts on the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides under Atmospheric CO2 Pressure

Abstract

One use of CO2 as a starting material in organic transformations is in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates. Due to the low reactivity of CO2, this transformation must be carried out in the presence of an efficient catalyst. Although several catalytic systems have been developed in the past decade, reducing the CO2 pressure at which the reaction is carried out remains one of the main challenges of the process. In this context, in the present work, we describe the catalytic activity of mixed metal oxides in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 (1 atm) and epoxides at 70 °C. Using these materials as catalysts represents significant benefits since they are very stable, cost-effective, and can be reused in several reaction cycles.