Two novel types of heterogeneous catalysts apply to synthesize cyclic carbonates through CO2 fixation on epoxides under mild condition

Abstract

The present work focuses on developing heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of CO2 and mono-/di-epoxides to mono-/bis-cyclic carbonates. To achieve this purpose, two types of recyclable solid catalysts, namely polyurethane (PU-BTP) and polyurethane modified on silica gel-solid support (SG-AU-BPT), are synthesized. On these catalysts, the key promoter CaI2 is pre-absorbed. Both catalysts show high catalytic activity under mild conditions. For example, phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) can be converted to 4-(phenoxymethyl)− 1,3-dioxolan-2-one at 60 °C within 6 h under 1 atm pressure of CO2. PU-BTP and SG-AU-BPT can be recollected by suction filtration and reused for eight times with conversion larger than 81% and 95% respectively. These results indicate that the degree of CaI2 leaching out from the catalysts in each cycle and loss is low.