Bibliographic survey of the strategies implemented for the one-pot synthesis of cyclic carbonates from styrene and other alkenes using CO2 and green oxidants

Abstract

Cyclic carbonates are key compounds with a large scope of applications. Their one-pot synthesis from cheap and available alkenes using CO2 and oxidants has gained great attention from an economic perspective. Furthermore, their synthesis under relatively low temperature and CO2 pressure with various oxidants such as alkyl peroxides, H2O2 and O2 could lead to an increasingly sustainable preparation route. Over the last two decades, some advances have been made in the development of catalytic systems affording the reaction of CO2 with epoxides under progressively milder conditions which is a prerequisite for the whole process. This review covers the state of art of the one-pot synthesis of cyclic carbonates from alkenes, mainly styrene, CO2 and oxidants with a focus on catalysts working under moderate temperature and low CO2 pressure in the presence of green reagents such as O2 and, to a lesser extent, H2O2. Procedures leading to a step economic pathway will be especially emphasized. Catalytic systems involving the two steps leading to an oxidative carboxylation of alkenes (i.e. auto-tandem vs. orthogonal catalysis or one-pot catalysis) are key issues that will be addressed in this review.