Robust bifunctional aluminium-salen catalysts for the preparation of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides

Abstract Two new one-component aluminium-based catalysts for the reaction between epoxides and carbon dioxide have been prepared. The catalysts are composed of aluminium-salen chloride complexes with trialkylammonium groups directly attached to the aromatic rings of the salen ligand. With terminal epoxides, the catalysts induced the formation of cyclic carbonates under mild reaction conditions (25-35 °C; 1-10 bar carbon dioxide pressure). However, with cyclohexene oxide under the same reaction conditions, the same catalysts induced the formation of polycarbonate. The catalysts could be recovered from the reaction mixture and reused. 161

Self-Assembled Ionic Composites of Negatively Charged Zn(salen) Complexes and Triphenylmethane Derived Polycations as Recyclable Catalysts for the Addition of Carbon Dioxide to Epoxides

The design and synthesis of a novel type of self-assembled ionic composite composed of negatively charged Zn(salen) complexes and triphenylmethane derived polycations is reported. These composites were applied as easily recyclable catalysts for carbon dioxide addition to epoxides. The composites functioned as bifunctional catalysts which could be easily separated and recycled by precipitation from the reaction mixture upon addition of tetrachloromethane. The same batch of the catalyst could be employed for, at least, five runs with its catalytic properties improving as it was reused. A fully heterogeneous system was also prepared by cross-linking leuco dye with para-dibromoxylene and adding to it calculated amounts of Zn(salen) complex. The heterogeneous system was catalytically competent in the reaction between styrene oxide and carbon dioxide and its activity also increased on its reuse