Synthesis of cyclic carbonate via the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxide at ambient pressure

Abstract

AbstractCyclic carbonates were synthesized via the coupling reaction of CO2 with epoxides at ambient pressure. The reaction of atmospheric pressure CO2 with styrene oxide (SO) was selected as the model reaction. The coupling reaction was investigated by varying a simple catalytic system composed of Lewis acid and quaternary ammonium salt, molar ratio of catalyst to substrate, solvent, and temperature. The yield of styrene carbonate (SC) reached 91.5% in the presence of ZnBr2/Bu4NBr at p(CO2)° = 0.1 MPa and 100°C for 4 h. The coupling reactions between CO2 and a series of substrates including aliphatic and aromatic epoxides were also performed efficiently. Yields of cyclic carbonates in the range of 76.4–93.2% were achieved. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.