Green Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Cyclic Carbonates: Epoxide Activation using Hydroxyl-functionalized Ionic
1Bio-organic Material Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019, India.
Introduction:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a significant contributor to global climate change, and its conversion into valuable chemicals, such as cyclic carbonates, is a vital area of research.
Methods:
The present study involves the synthesis of cyclic carbonates by cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epoxides in the presence of hydroxy-functionalized ammonium-based ionic liquids.
Results:
The effect of different alkyl chains in ionic liquids on the formation of cyclic carbonate product was examined, and the ionic liquid with a butyl chain, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N, N-dimethyl1-butanaminium bromide, afforded the highest yield and selectivity for cyclic carbonate formation.
Discussion:
The hydroxy group of ionic liquids and the bromide counter ion play a significant role in activating the epoxide ring for CO2 cycloaddition. The developed catalytic system worked well for the gram-scale production of cyclic carbonate with high selectivity.
Conclusion:
The present method demonstrated excellent catalytic activity for transforming epoxides into cyclic carbonates under ambient CO2 pressure, achieving high yields and selectivity without a co-catalyst or solvent. This catalyst offers a green and efficient method for CO2 conversion to value-added products under mild conditions.
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