Electrochemical Activation of Carbon Dioxide. Synthesis of Organic Carbonates and Carbamates

Abstract

Electrochemically activated CO2 reacts, under mild conditions, with primary and secondary amines and alcohols bearing a leaving group at the α or β position, affording cyclic carbamates and carbonates in high yields. After addition of EtI, unsubstituted amines and alcohols are converted into the corresponding ethyl carbamates and carbonates in good yields. In this paper, the expression electrochemical activation of carbon dioxide refers to some changes in the chemical properties of solutions of Et4NC1O4 in aprotic solvents saturated with CO2 or an O2/CO2 mixture, induced by electrochemical methodologies. Owing to these changes, the solutions acquire an interesting carboxylating power versus amines and alcohols. Our method of synthesis of organic carbamates and carbonates relies on this carboxylating power.