Highly Active and Robust Metalloporphyrin Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from a Broad Range of Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide

Solvent-Free Coupling Reaction of Carbon Dioxide and Epoxides Catalyzed by Quaternary Ammonium Functionalized Schiff Base Metal Complexes under Mild Conditions

A series of bifunctional Schiff base metal catalysts (Zn-NPClR, Zn-NPXH, and M-NPClH) with two quaternary ammonium groups were prepared for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and epoxide coupling reactions. The effects of the reaction variables on the catalytic activity were systematically investigated, and the optimal reaction conditions (120 °C, 1 MPa CO₂, 3 h) were screened. The performances of different metal-centered catalysts were evaluated, and Co-NPClH showed excellent activity. This kind of bifunctional catalyst has a wide range of substrate applicability, excellent stability, and can be reused for more than five runs. A relatively high TOF could reach up to 1416 h^-1 with Zn-NPClH as catalyst by adjusting reaction factors. In addition, the kinetic study of the coupling reaction catalyzed by three catalysts (Zn, Co, and Ni) was carried out to obtain the activation energy (E_a) for the formation of cyclic carbonates. Finally, a possible mechanism for this cyclization reaction was proposed.

Organocatalytic Polymers from Affordable and Readily Available Building Blocks for the Cycloaddition of CO2 to Epoxides

The catalytic cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides to afford cyclic carbonates as useful monomers, intermediates, solvents, and additives is a continuously growing field of investigation as a way to carry out the atom-economic conversion of CO₂ to value-added products. Metal-free organocatalytic compounds are attractive systems among various catalysts for such transformations because they are inexpensive, nontoxic, and readily available. Herein, we highlight and discuss key advances in the development of polymer-based organocatalytic materials that match these requirements of affordability and availability by considering their synthetic routes, the monomers, and the supports employed. The discussion is organized according to the number (monofunctional versus bifunctional materials) and type of catalytically active moieties, including both halide-based and halide-free systems. Two general synthetic approaches are identified based on the postsynthetic functionalization of polymeric supports or the copolymerization of monomers bearing catalytically active moieties. After a review of the material syntheses and catalytic activities, the chemical and structural features affecting catalytic performance are discussed. Based on such analysis, some strategies for the future design of affordable and readily available polymer-based organocatalysts with enhanced catalytic activity under mild conditions are considered.

Understanding the effect of the divalent cations (Ni, Cu, and Zn) exchanged FAU zeolite on the kinetic of CO2 cycloaddition with ethylene oxide: A DFT study

Epoxide ring opening and cycloaddition with CO₂ is one of the promising routes to convert CO₂ to more valuable industrial chemicals. In this work, density functional theory calculations with the M06-L/6-31G(d,p) level of theory have been employed to study the cycloaddition of ethylene oxide (EO) with CO₂ over M(II)-faujasite zeolite (M = Ni, Cu, and Zn) in the absence of a co-catalyst. The influence of the exchanged metals strongly dominates the adsorption of EO. The binding energies of EO on the active site are -39.9 (Ni-FAU), -24.2 (Cu-FAU), and -35.0 (Zn-FAU) kcal/mol, respectively. The reaction mechanism is proposed to occur via the concerted mechanism, in which the metals initiate the EO ring opening and the formation of two new C-O bonds between the adsorbed EO and CO₂ proceed in a single step. The activation energy of the reaction catalyzed by Cu-FAU is 24.2 kcal/mol whereas that of Ni and Zn-FAU is found to be 31.1 and 31.4 kcal/mol, respectively. Moderate adsorption of EO and a larger electron transfer at the transition state are the important keys that reduce the activation energy for the Cu-FAU lower than in the other systems.

Immobilization of Ionic Liquid on a Covalent Organic Framework for Effectively Catalyzing Cycloaddition of CO2 to Epoxides

Transforming CO₂ into value-added chemicals has been an important subject in recent years. The development of a novel heterogeneous catalyst for highly effective CO₂ conversion still remains a great challenge. As an emerging class of porous organic polymers, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have exhibited superior potential as catalysts for various chemical reactions, due to their unique structure and properties. In this study, a layered two-dimensional (2D) COF, IM4F-Py-COF, was prepared through a three-component condensation reaction. Benzimidazole moiety, as an ionic liquid precursor, was integrated onto the skeleton of the COF using a benzimidazole-containing building unit. Ionization of the benzimidazole framework was then achieved through quaternization with 1-bromobutane to produce an ionic liquid-immobilized COF, i.e., BMIM4F-Py-COF. The resulting ionic COF shows excellent catalytic activity in promoting the chemical fixation of CO₂ via reaction with epoxides under solvent-free and co-catalyst-free conditions. High porosity, the one-dimensional (1D) open-channel structure of the COF and the high catalytic activity of ionic liquid may contribute to the excellent catalytic performance. Moreover, the COF catalyst could be reused at least five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

Covalent Organic Frameworks for Simultaneous CO2 Capture and Selective Catalytic Transformation

Combination of capture and simultaneous conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals is a fascinating strategy for reducing CO2 emissions. Therefore, searching for heterogeneous catalysts for efficient catalytic conversion of CO2 is of great importance for carbon capture and utilization. Herein, we report a metalloporphyrin-based covalent organic framework (Co(II)@TA-TF COF) that can capture CO2 and simultaneously convert it into cyclic carbonates under mild conditions. The COF was designed to possess micropores for the adsorption of CO2 and integrated with cobalt(II) porphyrin (Co(II)@TAPP) units as catalytic sites into the vertices of the layered tetragonal networks. The structure of the Co(II)@TA-TF COF is unique where Co(II)@TAPP units are alternately stacked along the z direction with a slipped distance of 1.7 Å, which gives an accessible space to accommodate small molecules, making it possible to expose catalytic sites to substrates within the adjacent stacked layers. As a result, this COF is found to be highly effective for the addition of CO2 and epoxides. Importantly, the Co(II)@TA-TF COF exhibited a dramatic size selectivity for substrates. In conjunction with its reusability, our results highlight the development of a new function of COFs for targeting simultaneous CO2 absorption and utilization upon complementary exploration of the structural features of skeletons and pores. Such promising catalytic performance of the COF makes it possible for its potential practical application.

Azo-Functionalized Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Polyhedron as an Efficient Catalyst for CO2 Fixation with Epoxides

Chemical fixation of CO₂ as C1 source at ambient temperature and low pressure is an energy-saving way to make use of the green-house gas, but it still remains a challenge since efficient catalyst with high catalytic active sites is required. Here, a novel monoclinic azo-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic polyhedron (Zr-AZDA) has been prepared and applied in CO₂ fixation with epoxides. The inherent azo groups not only endow Zr-AZDA with good solubilization, but also act as basic sites to enrich CO₂ showing efficient synergistic catalysis as confirmed by TPD-CO₂ analysis. XPS results demonstrate that the Zr active sites in Zr-AZDA possess suitable Lewis acidity, which satisfies both substrates activation and products desorption. DFT calculation indicates the energy barrier of the rate-determining step in CO₂ cycloaddition could be reduced remarkably (by ca. 60.9 %) in the presence of Zr-AZDA, which may rationalize the mild and efficient reaction condition employed (80 °C and 1 atm of CO₂ ). The work provides an effective multi-functional cooperative method for improvement of CO₂ cycloaddition.

Metal-Cocatalyst Interaction Governs the Catalytic Activity of MII-Porphyrazines for Chemical Fixation of CO2

Chemical fixation of CO₂ to produce cyclic carbonates can be a green and atomic efficient process. In this work, a series of porphyrazines (Pzs) containing electron-withdrawing groups and central M^II ions (where M = Mg, Zn, Cu, and Co) were synthesized and investigated as catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides. Then, the efficiency of the Pzs was tested by varying cocatalyst type and concentration, epoxide, temperature, and pressure. Mg^IIPz bearing trifluoromethyl groups (1) showed the best conversion, producing, selectively, 78% of propylene cyclic carbonate (PCC), indicating that a harder and stronger Lewis acid is more effective for epoxide activation. Moreover, cocatalyst variation showed a notable effect on the reaction yields. Spectrophotometric titrations, MALDI-TOF mass spectra, and theoretical calculations suggest poisoning of the catalyst when tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) and large amounts of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) were used in the system. The same was not observed for tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI), indicating that the metal-cocatalyst interaction may govern the reaction rate. In addition, two rare examples of crystalline structures were obtained, proving the distorted square pyramidal geometry with water molecule as axial ligand. This is one of the first studies reporting Pzs as catalysts for the chemical fixation of CO₂, and we believe that the intricate balance between cocatalyst concentration and conversion efficiency shown here may aid future studies in the area.

Synthesis of Bifunctional Porphyrin Polymers for Catalytic Conversion of Dilute CO2 to Cyclic Carbonates

Development of efficient solid catalysts for catalytic conversion of dilute CO2 is of extreme importance for carbon capture and utilization. We report the synthesis of bifunctional polymers co-incorporated with porphyrin-Zn as Lewis acid sites and Br- as nucleophiles for the cycloaddition of dilute CO2 with epoxides in this work. It was found that the Br-/Zn ratio has a volcano relation with the activity of bifunctional polymers in a cycloaddition reaction, indicating the synergy effect between Lewis acid sites and nucleophiles. The turnover frequency (TOF) of the bifunctional polymer is more than four-fold that of the physical mixture of tetrabutylammonium bromide and porphyrin-Zn-incorporated polymer, implying the enhanced cooperation between Br- and porphyrin-Zn in the polymer network. The bifunctional polymer with optimized Br-/Zn afforded 99% conversion, 99% selectivity, and a TOF as high as 12,000 h-1 for the cycloaddition of CO2 and propylene oxide, which is among the most active solid catalysts ever reported. Furthermore, the bifunctional polymer could efficiently catalyze the cycloaddition of epichlorohydrin with dilute CO2 (7.5% CO2 balanced by N2) even under ambient conditions, demonstrating its potential application in industrial-scale production.

Zeolite-Y encapsulated cobalt(ii) Schiff-base complexes employed for photocatalytic dye-degradation and upcycling CO2

Planar cobalt(ii) Schiff-base complexes show modified structural and functional properties after encapsulation inside zeolite-Y.

Mn(iii)–porphyrin catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides at atmospheric pressure: effects of Lewis acidity and ligand structure

Mn(iii)–porphyrin catalysts with electron-withdrawing substituents were designed to uncover electronic and structural aspects in the cycloaddition of CO₂ with epoxides.

Ni and Zn N-confused porphyrin complexes as recyclable catalysts for high efficiency solvent-free CO2 fixation into cyclic carbonates

Zn^II[2-N(CH₂)₅N⁺(CH₃)₃Br⁻NCTPP] is a bifunctional catalyst that exhibits efficiency for CO₂ fixation with epoxides with TOF up to 370 000 h⁻¹ and TON 1.3 × 10⁶. It can also be recycled for the formation of glycerol carbonate from CO₂ and glycidol.

Unlocking the Potential of Substrate-Directed CO2 Activation and Conversion: Pushing the Boundaries of Catalytic Cyclic Carbonate and Carbamate Formation

The unparalleled potential of substrate-induced reactivity modes in the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and alcohol or amine functionalized epoxides is discussed in relation to more conventional epoxide/CO₂ coupling strategies. This conceptually new approach allows for a substantial extension of the substitution degree and functionality of cyclic carbonate/carbamate products, which are predominant products in the area of nonreductive CO₂ transformations. Apart from the creation of an advanced library of CO₂ -based heterocyclic products and intermediates, also the underlying mechanistic reasons for this novel reactivity profile are debated with a prominent role for the design and structure of the involved catalysts.

NNC-Scorpionate Zirconium-Based Bicomponent Systems for the Efficient CO2 Fixation into a Variety of Cyclic Carbonates

Two new derivatives of the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane modified by introduction of organosilyl groups on the central carbon atom, one of which bearing a chiral fragment, have been easily prepared. We verified the potential utility of these compounds through the reaction with [Zr(NMe₂)₄] for the preparation of novel zirconium complexes in which an ancillary bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methanide acts as a robust monoanionic tridentate scorpionate in a κ³-NNC chelating mode, forming strained four-membered heterometallacycles. These κ³-NNC-scorpionate zirconium amides were investigated as catalysts in combination with tetra-n-butylammonium bromide as cocatalyst for CO₂ fixation into five-membered cyclic carbonate products. The study has led to the development of an efficient zirconium-based bicomponent system for the selective cycloaddition reaction of CO₂ with epoxides. Kinetics investigations confirmed apparent first-order dependence on the catalyst and cocatalyst concentrations. In addition, this system displays very broad substrate scope, including mono- and disubstituted substrates, as well as the challenging biorenewable terpene derived limonene oxide, under mild and solvent-free conditions.

An Aminopyridinium Ionic Liquid: A Simple and Effective Bifunctional Organocatalyst for Carbonate Synthesis from Carbon Dioxide and Epoxides

An aminopyridinium ionic liquid is presented as a green, tunable, and active metal-free one-component catalytic system for the atom-efficient transformation of oxiranes and CO₂ to cyclic carbonates. Inclusion of a positively charged moiety into aminopyridines, through a simple single-step synthesis, provides a one-component ionic liquid catalytic system with superior activity; effective in ring opening of epoxide, CO₂ inclusion, and stabilization of oxoanionic intermediates. An efficiency assessment of a variety of positively charged aminopyridines was pursued, and the impact of temperature, catalyst loading, and the kind of nucleophile on the catalytic performance was also investigated. Under solvent-free conditions, this bifunctional organocatalytic system was used for the preparation of 18 examples of cyclic carbonates from a broad range of alkyl- and aryl-substituted oxiranes and CO₂ , where up to 98 % yield and high selectivity were achieved. DFT calculations validated a mechanism in which nucleophilic ring-opening and CO₂ inclusion occur simultaneously towards cyclic carbonate formation.

Synthesis of cyclic carbonates by ruthenium(VI) bis-imido porphyrin/TBACl-catalyzed reaction of epoxide with CO2

The catalytic activity of the ruthenium(VI) bis-imido porphyrin complex/TBACl binary system in promoting the CO[Formula: see text] cycloaddition to epoxides forming cyclic carbonates is here reported. The system was very efficient in catalyzing the conversion of differently substituted epoxides under mild experimental conditions (100 [Formula: see text]C and 0.6 MPa of CO[Formula: see text]. Even if the sole TBACl resulted active under the optimized experimental conditions, the addition of ruthenium species was fundamental to maximizing the reaction productivity both in terms of epoxide conversions and cyclic carbonate selectivities. A preliminary mechanistic study indicated a positive role of ruthenium imido nitrogen atom in activating carbon dioxide.

Aluminum porphyrins with quaternary ammonium halides as catalysts for copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2: metal-ligand cooperative catalysis

Bifunctional Al porphyrins worked as excellent catalysts for the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO₂.

Bifunctional Al^III porphyrins with quaternary ammonium halides, 2-Cl and 2-Br, worked as excellent catalysts for the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO₂ at 120 °C. Turnover frequency (TOF) and turnover number (TON) reached 10 000 h^–1 and 55 000, respectively, and poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) with molecular weight of up to 281 000 was obtained with a catalyst loading of 0.001 mol%. In contrast, bifunctional Mg^II and Zn^II counterparts, 3-Cl and 4-Cl, as well as a binary catalyst system, 1-Cl with bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride (PPNCl), showed poor catalytic performances. Kinetic studies revealed that the reaction rate was first-order in [CHO] and [2-Br] and zero-order in [CO₂], and the activation parameters were determined: ΔH^‡ = 12.4 kcal mol^–1, ΔS^‡ = –26.1 cal mol^–1 K^–1, and ΔG^‡ = 21.6 kcal mol^–1 at 80 °C. Comparative DFT calculations on two model catalysts, Al^III complex 2′ and Mg^II complex 3′, allowed us to extract key factors in the catalytic behavior of the bifunctional Al^III catalyst. The high polymerization activity and carbonate-linkage selectivity originate from the cooperative actions of the metal center and the quaternary ammonium cation, both of which facilitate the epoxide-ring opening by the carbonate anion to form the carbonate linkage in the key transition state such as TS3b (ΔH^‡ = 13.3 kcal mol^–1, ΔS^‡ = –3.1 cal mol^–1 K^–1, and ΔG^‡ = 14.4 kcal mol^–1 at 80 °C).

Green Pathway in Utilizing CO2 via Cycloaddition Reaction with Epoxide—A Mini Review

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been anticipated as an ideal carbon building block for organic synthesis due to the noble properties of CO2, which are abundant renewable carbon feedstock, non-toxic nature, and contributing to a more sustainable use of resources. Several green and proficient routes have been established for chemical CO2 fixation. Among the prominent routes, this review epitomizes the reactions involving cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2 in producing cyclic carbonate. Cyclic carbonate has been widely used as a polar aprotic solvent, as an electrolyte in Li-ion batteries, and as precursors for various forms of chemical synthesis such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes. This review provides an overview in terms of the reaction mechanistic pathway and recent advances in the development of several classes of catalysts, including homogeneous organocatalysts (e.g., organic salt, ionic liquid, deep eutectic solvents), organometallic (e.g., mono-, bi-, and tri-metal salen complexes and non-salen complexes) and heterogeneous supported catalysts, and metal organic framework (MOF). Selection of effective catalysts for various epoxide substrates is very important in determining the cycloaddition operating condition. Under their catalytic systems, all classes of these catalysts, with regard to recent developments, can exhibit CO2 cycloaddition of terminal epoxide substrates at ambient temperatures and low CO2 pressure. Although highly desired conversion can be achieved for internal epoxide substrates, higher temperature and pressure are normally required. This includes fatty acid-derived terminal epoxides for oleochemical carbonate production. The production of fully renewable resources by employment of bio-based epoxy with biorefinery concept and potential enhancement of cycloaddition reactions are pointed out as well.

A Mechanochemical-Assisted Synthesis of Boron, Nitrogen Co-Doped Porous Carbons as Metal-Free Catalysts

A green and convenient solid-state method assisted by mechanical energy is employed for the synthesis of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) co-doped porous carbons (B,N-Cs). Glutamic acid (Glu) and boric acid (H₃ BO₃ ) are used as the N-containing carbon precursor and boron source, respectively. This method is easy to perform and proved to be efficient towards co-doping B and N into the carbon matrix with high contents of B (7 atom %) and N (10 atom %). By adjusting the molar ratio of H₃ BO₃ to Glu, the surface chemical states of B and N could be readily modulated. When increasing H₃ BO₃ dosage, the pore size of B,N-Cs could be tuned ranging from micropores to mesopores with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area up to 940 m²  g^-1 . Finally, the B,N-Cs were applied as metal-free catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides, which outperform the N-doped carbon catalyst (NC-900) and the physically mixed catalyst of NC-900/B₄ C. The enhanced activity is attributed to the cooperative effect between B and N sites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals that BN₃ in the B,N-Cs serves as a critical active site for the cooperative catalysis.

Integration of metalloporphyrin into cationic covalent triazine frameworks for the synergistically enhanced chemical fixation of CO2

Cobalt porphyrin as a Lewis acidic site was integrated into imidazolium-functionalized porous cationic covalent triazine frameworks for the cooperatively enhanced catalysis CO₂ cycloaddition to produce cyclic carbonates.