Sn-catalyzed synthesis of propylene carbonate from propylene glycol and CO2 under supercritical conditions

Advanced zeolite and ordered mesoporous silica-based catalysts for the conversion of CO2 to chemicals and fuels

For many years, capturing, storing or sequestering CO₂ from concentrated emission sources or from air has been a powerful technique for reducing atmospheric CO₂. Moreover, the use of CO₂ as a C1 building block to mitigate CO₂ emissions and, at the same time, produce sustainable chemicals or fuels is a challenging and promising alternative to meet global demand for chemicals and energy. Hence, the chemical incorporation and conversion of CO₂ into valuable chemicals has received much attention in the last decade, since CO₂ is an abundant, inexpensive, nontoxic, nonflammable, and renewable one-carbon building block. Nevertheless, CO₂ is the most oxidized form of carbon, thermodynamically the most stable form and kinetically inert. Consequently, the chemical conversion of CO₂ requires highly reactive, rich-energy substrates, highly stable products to be formed or harder reaction conditions. The use of catalysts constitutes an important tool in the development of sustainable chemistry, since catalysts increase the rate of the reaction without modifying the overall standard Gibbs energy in the reaction. Therefore, special attention has been paid to catalysis, and in particular to heterogeneous catalysis because of its environmentally friendly and recyclable nature attributed to simple separation and recovery, as well as its applicability to continuous reactor operations. Focusing on heterogeneous catalysts, we decided to center on zeolite and ordered mesoporous materials due to their high thermal and chemical stability and versatility, which make them good candidates for the design and development of catalysts for CO₂ conversion. In the present review, we analyze the state of the art in the last 25 years and the potential opportunities for using zeolite and OMS (ordered mesoporous silica) based materials to convert CO₂ into valuable chemicals essential for our daily lives and fuels, and to pave the way towards reducing carbon footprint. In this review, we have compiled, to the best of our knowledge, the different reactions involving catalysts based on zeolites and OMS to convert CO₂ into cyclic and dialkyl carbonates, acyclic carbamates, 2-oxazolidones, carboxylic acids, methanol, dimethylether, methane, higher alcohols (C₂₊OH), C₂₊ (gasoline, olefins and aromatics), syngas (RWGS, dry reforming of methane and alcohols), olefins (oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes) and simple fuels by photoreduction. The use of advanced zeolite and OMS-based materials, and the development of new processes and technologies should provide a new impulse to boost the conversion of CO₂ into chemicals and fuels.

From the Synthesis of Biobased Cyclic Carbonate to Polyhydroxyurethanes: A Promising Route towards Renewable Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes

With a global production of around 18 million tons (6th among all polymers) and a wide range of applications, such as rigid and soft foams, elastomers, coatings, and adhesives, polyurethanes (PUs) are a major polymer family. Nevertheless, they present important environmental and health issues. Recently, new and safer PUs, called non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), have become a promising alternative to replace conventional PUs. Sustainable routes towards NIPUs are discussed herein from the perspective of green chemistry. The main focus is on the reaction between biobased carbonates and amines, which offers an interesting pathway to renewable polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs). An overview of different routes for the synthesis of PHUs draws attention to the green synthesis of cyclic carbonate (CC) compounds and the aminolysis reaction. Current state-of-the-art of different biobased building blocks for the synthesis of PHUs focuses on CC compounds. Three classes of compounds are defined according to the feedstock: 1) vegetable fats and oils, 2) starch and sugar resources, and 3) wood derivatives. Finally, biobased PHU properties are discussed.

Triorganotin(iv) cation-promoted dimethyl carbonate synthesis from CO2and methanol: solution and solid-state characterization of an unexpected diorganotin(iv)-oxo cluster

NovelC,N-chelated organotin(iv) complexes bearing weakly coordinating carborane moieties were prepared and used as a catalyst precursor for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO₂and methanol.

Silver(I)-Promoted Cascade Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols, Carbon Dioxide, and Vicinal Diols: Thermodynamically Favorable Route to Cyclic Carbonates

A silver(I)-promoted cascade reaction was developed for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from terminal propargylic alcohols, carbon dioxide, and vicinal diols. Compared with direct condensation of vicinal diols with CO₂, this protocol provides a thermodynamically favorable route to cyclic carbonates and α-hydroxyl ketones in excellent yields (up to 97%) without the additional dehydration step. Such a cascade procedure proceeds presumably through initial reaction of propargylic alcohol with CO₂ and subsequent nucleophilic attack of vicinal alcohol on in situ-formed α-alkylidene cyclic carbonate, resulting in successive generation of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonate, unsymmetrical β-oxoalkyl carbonate, cyclic carbonate, and α-hydroxyl ketone.

Synthesis of Carbonates from Alcohols and CO2

Alcohols are ubiquitous compounds in nature that offer modular building blocks for synthetic chemistry. Here we discuss the most recent development of different classes of alcohols and their coupling chemistry with carbon dioxide as to afford linear and cyclic carbonates, the challenges associated with their formation, and the potential of this chemistry to revive a waste carbon feed stock.

Propylene oxide as a dehydrating agent: potassium carbonate-catalyzed carboxylative cyclization of propylene glycol with CO2 in a polyethylene glycol/CO2 biphasic system

Propylene carbonate was directly prepared in 78% yield from 1,2-propylene glycol and CO₂ in polyethylene glycol/CO₂ biphasic system promoted by K₂CO₃ with propylene oxide as the dehydrating agent.

Catalytic CO2conversion to organic carbonates with alcohols in combination with dehydration system

This perspective highlights the direct synthesis of organic carbonates from CO₂and alcohols combined with dehydration systems.