Production Of Cyclic Carbonates Research Articles

Rational Design of Porous Organic Framework (POF) for Efficient Conversion of CO2 to Cyclic Carbonates and 2-Oxazolidinones at Atmospheric Pressure Conditions.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and its subsequent catalytic fixation into usable compounds represent a potential approach for addressing the energy problem and the implications of global warming. Hence, it is necessary to develop effective catalytic systems required for the transformation of CO2 into valuable chemicals/fuels. Herein, we rationally designed a hydroxyl-functionalized porous organic framework (OH-POF) consisting of both acidic (OH) as well as basic N sites for the transformation of CO2 using epoxides for the production of cyclic carbonates (CCs), a useful commodity chemical under environmental-friendly, metal/solvent/co-catalyst-free conditions. Moreover, OH-POF was post-synthetically modified to anchor non-noble metal, Zn(II) to generate Zn-POF and further explored it for the efficient functionalization of CO2 with propargylic amines to generate valuable bioactive 2-oxazolidinones. Significantly, both OH-POF and Zn-POF demonstrated exceptional reusability with catalytic efficacy retained across numerous cycles of use. Notably, this study showcases a green and sustainable process for utilization of CO2 under environmentally favorable ambient conditions into two highly valuable compounds, viz cyclic carbonates and 2-oxazolidinones.

Effective One-Component Organocatalysts for Eco-Friendly Production of Cyclic Carbonates

One-component or bifunctional organocatalysts are some of the most capable compounds to perform the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO2) since the presence of a co-catalyst is not required. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated five halogenated compounds as bifunctional organocatalysts for this catalytic transformation. Among them, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (1) exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency, enabling the synthesis of a broad range of monosubstituted cyclic carbonates with diverse functional groups under mild conditions (80 °C, 20 bar CO2) within 1 h, using only 1 mol% catalyst loading. Remarkably, this organocatalyst also facilitated the synthesis of five internal cyclic carbonates and a carvone-derived exo-cyclic carbonate, which was obtained for the first time without the use of a metal catalyst, under more demanding conditions. A mechanistic proposal was developed through a combination of 1H-NMR studies and density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Styrene oxide and cyclohexene oxide were used as model substrates to investigate the reaction pathway, which was computed using an optimized climbing-image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method. The results revealed the critical role of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide in key reaction steps, particularly in facilitating the epoxy ring opening process. These findings highlight the potential use of bifunctional compounds as efficient and versatile catalysts for CO2 valorization.

Rapid CO2 coupling to propargylic alcohols: unlocking the production of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates via continuous flow

Silver N-heterocyclic carbene complex unlocks the fast coupling of CO2 to propargylic alcohols to produce α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates through continuous flow process.

One-pot construction of highly active defective g-C3N4 via hydrogen bond of the biomass for the improvement of CO2 conversion

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) containing conjugated tri-s-triazine units has a high abundance of amine and guanidine groups, which are ideal for the application of CO2 conversion. However, absolute g-C3N4 is inherently scarce in Lewis base sites, which leads to low catalytic activities. In this study, we present a simple and green method to in situ construct chrysanthemum stalk-derived porous carbon/ highly active defective g-C3N4 (PC/g-C3N4) through hydrogen bond, increasing the surface area and a high density of Lewis base sites. The chrysanthemum stalk contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, which possess a significant number of hydroxyl functional groups and drain channels, thereby providing more hydrogen bonding for highly active defective g-C3N4. The XPS spectra revealed that, in comparison to PC/g-C3N4–1 and PC/ g-C3N4–2.5, PC/g-C3N4–2 exhibited a higher C-NH2 content at the edge of the nitrogen element. PC/g-C3N4–2 had a high specific surface area to expose more active sites for absorbing CO2. The quantification of the base sites is determined by the peak area of the thermal programmed desorption of CO2 and is 229.6 μmol/g for PC/g-C3N4–2. PC/g-C3N4–2 demonstrated excellent catalytic activity in the cycloaddition with hierarchical pores. The yield of cyclic carbonate was up to 99% with a selectivity of 99% under mild solvent-free conditions. The mechanistic studies indicate that PC/g-C3N4–2 not only captured CO2, but also provided hydrogen bonds to activate the oxygen atom of epichlorohydrin (ECH). It is our contention that the multifunctional organic-inorganic hybrid materials have considerable potential for the production of cyclic carbonate.

Iron and Zinc Metallates Supported on Ion Exchange Resins: Synergistic Catalysts for the Solvent‐Free Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis from Epoxides and CO2

AbstractDespite extensive research into developing efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for converting CO2 over the last decade, the search for a robust and cost‐effective catalytic system is ongoing. This study describes developing and applying a new catalytic system using inexpensive ferrate and zincate anions immobilized on easily available commercial ion exchange resins (IER) to produce cyclic carbonates from CO2 with high efficiency and low cost. Two polystyrene‐based anion exchange resins, AmberlystTM A26‐Cl (A26‐Cl) and AmberliteTM IRA‐400‐Cl (IRA400‐Cl), were compared. The results demonstrated the catalysts’ remarkable activity under mild conditions and demonstrated the synergistic effect between the polystyrene support and the active ammonium metallates, presenting a scalable, eco‐friendly method for cyclic carbonate production using waste CO2. A Design of Experiment (DoE) approach was implemented to optimize the catalytic cycloaddition of CO2. The reaction scale‐up to produce a 5 g batch of propylene oxide and conducting recycling tests demonstrated that the catalyst retained its activity over four cycles. The research also explored the use of various epoxides and found that terminal epoxides produced very good yields. In summary, this study introduces a cost‐effective, scalable method for converting CO2 into valuable cyclic carbonates, leveraging the synergistic effects of polystyrene supports and active ammonium metallates.

Synthesis and catalytic application to form cyclic carbonates of novel Pd(II) Cu(II), and Fe(II) benzoate-based Schiff base metal complexes

This work describes the synthesis and characterisation of six novel Schiff base complexes, Cu(II), Pd(II), and Fe(II), which, under the right circumstances, function as very efficient catalysts for the production of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides. FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, molar conductivity, melting point, and magnetic susceptibility measurements are among the spectroscopic methods used to characterize newly synthesized complexes. The molar conductivity values, ranging from 2.58 to 4.03 µS/cm, suggest that the complexes exhibit no molar conductivity. Co-catalysts, such as 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, pyridine, triethylamine, and triphenyl phosphine, were used in these processes, both with and without one. 4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine was used as the co-catalyst in the catalytic studies. Additionally, a number of variables that affect the cycloaddition process were examined, including the temperature, CO2 pressure, reaction time, and co-catalyst. All novel catalysts exhibited exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity in the catalytic assays. Regarding the coupling of CO2 and epichlorohydrin as epoxides, the L2-Cu catalyst outperformed other catalysts in terms of catalytic activity (90.7%) and selectivity (98.9%).

Synergistic catalysis of dual-sites promoted cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides

This study explores the catalytic efficacy of fluorine-modified 1 wt% copper oxide on MCM-41 (F-1Cu/MCM-41) in carbon dioxide cycloaddition reactions. It delves into reaction mechanisms, active sites, and the practical applicability of the catalyst. Comprehensive examination through in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and other analytical methods substantiated the role of halogen-modified mono-dispersed copper species in carbon dioxide activation and silicon hydroxide sites in epoxide activation, while underscoring the role of Lewis bases and Brønsted acids. Kinetic studies and density functional theory calculations pinpointed carbon dioxide activation as the pivotal step. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited robust stability and efficiency in continuous flow experiments, sustaining a 99% selectivity towards cyclic carbonate over 150 h. An eco-friendly evaluation confirmed the sustainability of the process, emphasizing its minimal environmental footprint and high efficiency. These results establish fluorine-modified 1 wt% copper oxide on MCM-41 as a formidable candidate for industrial-scale cyclic carbonate production, due to its promising performance and sustainability.

Regulating the N-functional hydrogen bond donors over magnetic nanoparticles supported imidazole tribromide zinc ionic liquid for CO2 cycloaddition

The design of catalysts for the mile production of cyclic carbonates by CO2 cycloaddition is of value. Magnetic polymer nanoparticles-supported imidazole tribromide zinc ionic liquid catalysts, incorporating N-functional hydrogen bond donors (HBD), was successfully accomplished. The correlation between the N-functional HBD and catalytic activity was thoroughly investigated through experimental studies and DFT calculations. The catalyst featuring a secondary amine group (NHM) demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance in CO2 cycloaddition reactions. Under optimized conditions, including 0.12 mol% catalyst dose, 100 °C, and nPO:nCO2 = 1:1.2 for 3 h, a complete conversion was achieved. The exceptional performance of the catalyst was attributed to the multicenter synergistic effect, arising from the appropriate electronegativity, minimal spatial site resistance, a balanced distance between the NHM and imidazolium ion, and the presence of multiple active centers (NHM, Zn2+, and Br−). The integration of a magnetic component enabled swift separation and exceptional recovery stability over 8 consecutive cycles.

Quaternarized chitosan nanofiber and ZIF aerogel composites for synergetic CO2 cycloaddition catalysis

Chemical upcycling of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, is attracting significant attention as a crucial strategy to combat global warming. The production of cyclic carbonate using metal-organic frameworks and their composites using nanofibrous carbohydrate polymer are promising ways to convert CO2 into valuable products. However, the current role of fibrous polymers is restricted to serving as physical substrates. This study seeks to expand the functionality of quaternarized chitosan nanofibers into synergistic catalysts in addition to their physical support role. A novel aerogel composite using Co/Zn-ZIF catalyst and quaternarized chitosan nanofiber (Q-CsNF+) was fabricated, and its hierarchical pore structure was extensively discussed. The obtained ZIF/Q-CsNF+ composite can synergistically convert epoxide to cyclic carbonate by acting as a co-catalyst. Moreover, we determined the predominant factors influencing catalytic activity in CO2 cycloaddition, especially by examining the interplay between CO2 affinity and co-catalyst effects. This research provides fundamental insight into developing CO2 cycloaddition catalysts using nature-derived fibrous polymers, opening new avenues for sustainable and efficient CO2 utilization.

Nitrogen-rich covalent-organic-framework as a recyclable heterogenous catalyst for the efficient cycloaddition of carbon dioxide with epoxides

Carbon dioxide (CO2) can be chemically converted into high-value products, which is not only helps to ease the environmental problems instigated by global warming and has an optimistic effect on economies around the planet. The production of cyclic carbonates is regarded as a promising approach to convert CO2 through the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides. However, a major obstacle in this process is the synthesis of environmentally friendly and highly effective heterogeneous catalysts. Here, a novel nitrogen-rich covalent organic framework (CP-COF) was firstly synthesized through a polymerization method of piperazine and cyanuric chloride with 1, 4‐dioxane and used for the aforesaid reaction. A number of analytical methods were employed to verify the chemical composition and the structure of the catalyst. The CP-COF catalyst possessed a significant amount of active nitrogen sites and hydrogen bond donors in it, resulting in a high level of reactivity for the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epichlorohydrin in the absence of any solvent and metals, and the yield of chloropropene carbonate (CPC) reached 99 % at 110 ℃, 6 h and 1 MPa CO2 pressure. The CP-COF sample exhibited commendable activity towards a range of epoxides. Moreover, it showed high reusability for the reaction without any loss in the catalytic efficiency.

LaFeO3 nanoparticle immobilized on DFNS-graphene oxide for the production of polymer and biopolyurethanes from carbon dioxide

Dendritic fibrous nano silica (DFNS) was functionalized through the utilization of graphene oxide (GO) as a long-lasting anchoring agent. Consequently, the LaFeO3 nanoparticles were evenly spread out without clumping over the DFNS/GO. The supramolecular polymerized GO served the dual purpose of preventing the restacking of graphene sheets and functioned as a supplier of nitrogen to create active sites for the bonding of LaFeO3 nanoparticles. The nitrogen content above the extent of the GO films was modified by LaCl3·7 H2O and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O ions to synthesize LaFeO3 nanoparticles. The catalytic properties of DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 was observed in the reaction between CO2 and oxetane and epoxide, leading to the production of the corresponding polycarbonates. The results indicated that DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 significantly enhanced the efficiency of synthesizing poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) from carbon dioxide. This approach offers substantial benefits, including high economic efficiency. The union reaction of CO2 and highly substituted epoxides sourced from sustainable sources such as discarded vegetable oils and fatty acids resulted in the production of novel cyclic carbonates of bio-origin. This reaction occurred under gentle and solvent-free conditions using DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 as a catalyst. The DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 exhibited a high capacity for CO2 uptake with exceptionally rapid kinetics. The nanoplate morphology of DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 facilitated the formation of a satisfactory outer layer for carbon dioxide uptake at each metal site. Consequently, the nanoplate morphology of DFNS/GO-LaFeO3 ensured systematic carbon dioxide emission, guaranteeing a complete reaction with the entire sheet and enabling rapid CO2 adsorption kinetics.

An improved boron-catalyzed cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides for the production of five-membered cyclic carbonates under atmospheric versus high-pressure conditions

A series of novel boron-based compounds (boronate esters) (1–8) were designed and successfully synthesized by introducing 3-(bromomethyl)phenylboronic acid into the various cis-diols using a Dean-Stark trap to remove the water formed during the esterification reactions. The synthesized boron-based compounds were characterized by 1H, 13C, and 11B NMR, FT-IR, UV–Vis, LC-MS/MS, elemental analysis, TGA-DTA, and melting point measurement techniques. Additionally, the Lewis acidity of the synthesized boronate esters was investigated by the conventional Gutmann-Beckett test. After the boronate esters were characterized in detail by various spectroscopic techniques, these compounds have been used as organocatalysts for the highly efficient conversion of greenhouse gas CO2 to cyclic carbonates under atmospheric versus high-pressure conditions without any solvents. The best conversion was performed in the presence of an organoboron catalyst (3) and DMAP as cocatalyst, with a 90.0 % yield and 97.7 % selectivities under high reactor pressure and with a 45.2% yield and 97.4% selectivities under atmospheric conditions. In addition, after it was determined that the target organoboron catalysts showed high catalytic activity, the effects of epoxide, base, temperature, CO2 pressure, Lewis acidity, reaction time, and amount of catalyst and base on the catalytic conversion were investigated for these catalysts.

CO2 Valorization in Deep Eutectic Solvents.

The deep eutectic solvent (DES) has emerged in recent years as a valuable medium for converting CO2 into valuable chemicals because of its easy availability, stability, and safety, and its capability to dissolve carbon dioxide. CO2 valorization in DES has evolved rapidly over the past 20 years. As well as being used as solvents for acid/base-promoted CO2 conversion for the production of cyclic carbonates and carbamates, DESs can be used as reaction media for electrochemical CO2 reduction for formic acid and CO. Among these products, cyclic carbonates can be used as solvents and electrolytes, carbamate derivatives include the core structure of many herbicides and pesticides, and formic acid and carbon monoxide, the C1 electrochemical products, are essential raw materials in the chemical industries. An overview of the application of DESs for CO2 valorization in recent years is presented in this review, followed by a compilation and comparison of product types and reaction mechanisms within the different types of DESs, and an outlook on how CO2 valorization will be developed in the future.

Exploitation of Mechanistic Product Selectivity for the Two‐Step Synthesis of Optically Active Bio‐Derived Cyclic Carbonates Incorporating Amino Acids

AbstractThe synthesis of bio‐derived cyclic carbonates is attracting a lot of attention as the incorporation of bio‐derived functionality into these compounds provides the opportunity to prepare previously unknown structures, whilst also improving their sustainability profiles. This study presents a facile preparation of diastereomerically pure bio‐derived cyclic carbonates displaying a range of optical rotation values. These compounds are obtained from glycidol, amino acids and CO2 in a facile two‐step approach. Initially, the diastereomerically pure amino acid functionalised epoxides are prepared through a robust Steglich esterification of enantiopure glycidol (R or S) and an amino acid (D or L). Thereafter, in a second step, cycloaddition of the epoxide with CO2 results in the retention of the initial stereochemistry of the epoxide, furnishing novel diastereomerically pure and optically active cyclic carbonate products. A DFT study has explained the basis of this observed retention of configuration for these compounds. Further, results from this DFT study also provide new mechanistic information concerning a co‐catalyst‐free cycloaddition reaction starting from glycidol when using the gallium‐catalyst, which is found to operate through metal‐ligand cooperativity.

Efficient Selective Catalytic Fixation of CO2 into Epoxide to Form Cyclic Carbonates Using Sodium Aluminate Engineered Gamma Alumina Catalyst

The anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) fixation and various engineering strategies are gaining very significant attention because of the expansion of the net‐zero carbon environment in the atmosphere. Herein, we designed a sodium aluminate@γ‐alumina (NaAlO2@γ‐Al2O3) catalyst by a simple and facile precipitation and impregnation tactics. A series of different weight percentage NaAlO2@γ‐Al2O3 materials were successfully synthesized and well characterized by using advanced analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as TGA, XRD, FE‐SEM, TEM/HR‐TEM, FT‐IR, Raman, TPD, and XPS analysis. The NaAlO2@γ‐Al2O3 catalyst was employed as a competent catalyst for the CO2 fixation under atmospheric pressure reaction conditions. The catalytic activity results evidently revealed that the cycloaddition reaction successfully achieved 94% styrene oxide conversion and 93% selectivity, along with an 87% yield of the styrene carbonate at 120 °C for 6 h. Furthermore, we comprehensively examined the effect of different reaction parameters such as the effect of sodium aluminate amount, co‐catalyst amount, temperature, and time for CO2 fixation reaction. Additionally, different terminal and internal epoxides were tested under optimized reaction conditions and achieved moderate to excellent yield of the desired cyclic carbonate products. Interestingly, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed for the styrene carbonate synthesis using NaAlO2@γ‐Al2O3 catalyst surface with the support of characterization and experimental results. Remarkably, the NaAlO2@γ‐Al2O3 catalyst could be easily recoverable and successfully recyclable up to six consecutive cycles without declining its initial catalytic activity along with stable structural and physicochemical properties.

Halogenated melamine formaldehyde polymers: Efficient, robust and cost-effective bifunctional catalysts for continuous production of cyclic carbonates via. CO2-epoxide cycloaddition

Halogenated porous melamine polymers were demonstrated to be efficient catalysts for CO2-epoxide cycloaddition, selectively (>99%) producing C3-C12 cyclic carbonates in excellent yields (upto 99%) under solvent and co-catalyst free conditions. The halogenated polymers outperformed benchmark catalysts incorporating only basic (N-doped carbon, ZIF-8, N-rich melamine polymer) or nucleophilic (TBAB, KI) sites. The superior catalytic performance of these inexpensive polymers was attributed to their unique surface chemistry incorporating abundant, stable basic N sites (amine N and protonated N) and nucleophilic (Cl-, Br- or I-) that enabled simultaneous activation of both epoxide and CO2 molecule (supported by kinetic and DFT studies). Further, among halogenated polymers a Br- containing material (PMFBr) presented highest activity owing to its balanced CO2-philicity and strong nucleophilicity. Most importantly, PMFBr was robust, reusable and maintained stable performance for continuous production of C3-C4 cyclic carbonate (120 °C, 0.3–0.83 h-1 WHSVepoxide and 15 bar) in a fixed-bed reactor during 60–190 h TOS.

Ionic liquid post-modified carboxylate-rich MOFs for efficient catalytic CO2 cycloaddition under solvent-free conditions.

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates through cycloaddition reactions between epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important industrial process. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have functional and ordered pore structures, making them attractive catalysts for converting gas molecules into valuable products. One approach to enhance the catalytic activity of MOFs in CO2 cycloaddition reactions is to create open metal sites within MOFs. In this study, the amino-functionalized rare earth Gd-MOF (Gd-TPTC-NH2) and its ionic liquid composite catalysts (Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br) were synthesized using 2'-amino-[1,1':4',1''-terphenyl]-3,3'',5,5''-tetracarboxylic acid (H4TPTC-NH2) as the ligand. The catalytic performance of these two catalysts was observed in the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and epoxides. Under the optimized reaction conditions, Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br can effectively catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of a variety of epoxide substrates with good to excellent yields of cyclic carbonate products. Comparatively, epichlorohydrin and epibromohydrin, which possess halogen substituents, promote higher yields of cyclic carbonates due to the electron-withdrawing nature of Cl and Br substituents. Additionally, the Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br catalyst demonstrated good recyclability and reproducibility, maintaining its catalytic activity without any changes in its structure or properties after five reuse cycles.

Designed synergetic bifunctional catalyst based on diverse nucleophilic-functionalized sites for high-efficient CO2 cycloaddition under co-catalyst and solvent-free conditions

Nucleophilic substitutes provide a new platform to design and synthesize novel bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for carbon dioxide cycloaddition reaction with epoxides. Herein, in this work, UMCM-15 was fabricated and modified with various nucleophilic ligands containing bromine, amine and hydroxyl functional groups. The resultant prepared compounds were utilized as bifunctional synergetic catalysts for the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide. The catalysts can efficiently catalyze epoxides and carbon dioxide under relatively mild conditions in the absence of co-catalyst and solvent. The contemporaneous presence of Lewis acid and basic centers in the framework resulted in high catalytic activity and turnover number (TON) value for the production of cyclic carbonates compared to other reported compounds indicating superiority of the synthesized catalysts. Among diverse applied bifunctional catalysts, bromine-functionalized frameworks exhibited the highest catalytic performance owing to the presence of multiple electron pairs and the great tendency to donate electron pairs.

Carboxylative cyclization of propargyl alcohols with carbon dioxide for the synthesis of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates in presence of Co(III) schiff base complex catalyst

A cobalt(III) complex, [Co(L)3](DMF) (1) of Schiff base ligand HL, 2-((E)-(benzylimino)methyl)-4-bromophenol is prepared and single crystal X-ray structural analysis have also been performed. The structures of complex 1 showed hexa-coordinated mononuclear systems that adopt octahedral geometry. The complex has also exhibited the supramolecular networks through non-covalent interactions like H-bonding, C–Hπ stacking. Moreover, the complex 1 is very effective in the catalytic fixation of carbon dioxide in propergyl alcohols to produce α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates. The catalytic production of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates have been carried out through carboxylative cyclization of propargyl alcohols using CO2 balloon of 1 atm pressure at 80 °C. Solvent free condition (green synthesis) made this catalytic protocol eco-friendly towards the environment. Utilizing various substrates of propargyl alcohols moderate to high percentage yield (62–95%) of respective α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates product have been isolated over this catalytic reaction. Besides, the theoretical calculations (DFT) was performed for the prediction of probable mechanism of the catalytic reaction.

Cyclo-addition of carbon dioxide to epoxides employing hierarchical silicoaluminophosphates molecular sieves

Hierarchical silicoaluminophosphates comprising dual micro/meso pore structures have been explored, and proven to be effective, robust, and recyclable materials for the production of cyclic carbonates in the absence of co-catalyst. Upon activation at the temperature range of 80–100 °C, treated SAPOs have been examined as catalysts for the reaction. The crystalline structures of the hierarchical SAPO were checked by P-XRD. FE-SEM images confirmed the morphology and TEM measurement showed the periodicity of the framework. The BET analysis revealed the surface modification. In the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxide (cyclohexene oxide, and styrene oxide), the hierarchical silicoaluminophosphate materials were explored where the activity of post-synthetic treated materials as catalyst was discovered to be superior. 100 % and 93 % reactant conversion were found for treated SAPO-34 and SAPO-5 catalyst, respectively.