Multifunctional metal-organic frameworks for direct photosynthesis of cyclic carbonates from gaseous olefins

Ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) are important feedstocks in the production of commercial battery electrolytes and green solvents. However, their conventional industrial synthetic pathways rely heavily on energy-intensive thermocatalytic processes with costly epoxide reactants. Here, we report a class of multifunctional metal-organic framework photocatalysts (RE-BTTD-AC) that integrate oxygen (O₂) activation, C-H bond activation, photothermal conversion and Lewis acid reactivity. They enable photosynthesis of EC and PC under ambient conditions with a sustainable, cheap and safe method using ethylene (C₂H₄)/propylene (C₃H₆), CO₂, and O₂. Experimental results combined with theoretical calculations demonstrate that the multifunctional nature of RE-BTTD-AC permits the occurrence of tandem reaction of photoredox and cycloaddition, leading to a relay conversion of C₂H₄/C₃H₆-to-epoxide-to-EC/PC. The catalytic system exhibits high product yields (EC of 96.02 μmol/g/h with 95% selectivity, PC of 640.03 μmol/g/h with 93% selectivity) in 48 hours and has a long-term production capacity of at least 720 hours.