Fixation of CO₂ into Cyclic Carbonates by Halogen-Bonding Catalysis

Halogen bonding, parallel to hydrogen bonding, was introduced into the catalytic cycloaddition of carbon dioxide into epoxide (CCE) reactions. A series of halogen-bond donor (XBD) catalysts of N-iodopyridinium halide featured with N-I bond were synthesized and evaluated in CCE reactions. The optimal XBD catalyst, 4-(dimethylamino)-N-iodopyridinium bromide ([DMAPI]Br), under screened conditions at 100 °C, ambient pressure, and 1 mol % catalyst loading, realized 93 % conversion of styrene oxide into cyclic carbonate in 6 h. The substrate scope was successfully extended with excellent yields (mostly ≥93 %) and quantitative selectivity (more than 99 %). ¹ H NMR spectroscopy of the catalyst [DMAPI]Br on substrate epoxide certified that the N-I bond directly coordinated with the epoxide oxygen. A plausible mechanism of halogen-bonding catalysis was proposed, in which the DMAPI cation functioned as halogen-bond donor to activate the epoxide, and the counter anion bromide attacked the methylene carbon to initiate the ring-opening of the epoxide. CCE reactions promoted by N-iodopyridinium halide, exemplify a first case of halogen-bonding catalysis in epoxide activation and CO₂ transformation.