Highly efficient 3d/4d-4f coordination polymer catalysts for carbon dioxide fixation into cyclic carbonates

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Developing efficient catalysts for CO2 utilization is crucial for addressing climate change.
• Metal-organic frameworks and coordination polymers offer tunable structures for catalytic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel 1D double-chain coordination polymer catalysts.
• To evaluate their catalytic performance in the cycloaddition of CO2 and styrene oxide.

Main Methods:

• X-ray single crystal structure analysis to determine the compounds' structure.
• Thermal stability analysis up to 325 °C.
• Investigation of reaction conditions, substrate type, catalyst loading, and catalytic mechanism.

Main Results:

• Two isomorphous 1D metal-organic network coordination polymers were successfully synthesized.
• The catalysts ([Dy2M2L4 (OAc)2 (MeOH)5 (H2O)], M = Zn, Cd) exhibited excellent catalytic activity.
• High product yields, selectivity, and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 28,400 h⁻¹ were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The novel 1D coordination polymers are highly efficient and thermally stable catalysts.
• They show significant potential for CO2 fixation reactions, enhancing the application of 3d/4d-4f catalysts.