Intramolecularly two-centered cooperation catalysis for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides

✍ Scribed by Xiang Zhang; Yin-Bao Jia; Xiao-Bing Lu; Bo Li; Hui Wang; Li-Cheng Sun

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 202 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0040-4039
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2008.09.035

✦ Synopsis

A catalyst system containing an electrophilic center and a sterically hindered nucleophilic center in one molecule was applied to the cycloaddition reaction of CO 2 and epoxides. This intramolecularly two-centered cooperation catalyst showed activity even at a high [epoxide]/[catalyst] ratio up to 50 000 under mild conditions such as solvent-free, ambient temperature, and low CO 2 pressure. The reaction of CO 2 with (S)-propylene oxide at 80 °C in the presence of the bifunctional catalyst gives (S)-propylene carbonate in 96% ee with retention of stereochemistry.