N-Heterocyclic carbene-nitrogen molybdenum catalysts for utilization of CO2

Abstract

Three new N-heterocyclic carbene-nitrogen molybdenum complex was synthesized, and its catalytic activity was evaluated in the cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2. The molybdenum complex combined with tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (TBAI) resulted in a catalytic system for efficient conversion of a wide range of terminal and internal epoxides under 80 °C and 5–7 bar pressure for CO2. The cooperative catalysis mechanism between molybdenum complex and TBAI was elucidated, in which molybdenum complex was used as Lewis acid, and TBAI was employed as nucleophilic reagent. In addition, the NHC-Mo catalytic system was also successfully applied for the direct carboxylation of terminal alkynes with CO2.