Organic carbonates are used in a variety of applications ranging from polymer synthesis to fuel additives. The traditional route to these important molecules relies on expensive and often toxic starting materials. We wish to report a <i>direct</i> oxidative carboxylation protocol utilizing a catalytic cascade approach for the synthesis of cyclic organic carbonates from olefins. Metal salen complexes are highly active for the epoxidation of olefins and also for carboxylation of epoxides in liquid phase reactions. We have combined the two reactions in one-pot to yield a more benign and straight-forward route to these useful chemical intermediates. Molecular salen-based catalysts were grafted to silica with single Mn centers and bimetallic Al centers and were tested in both batch and flow reactors. The developed protocol also demonstrates a strategy for the utilization of carbon dioxide as a viable carbon source for the synthesis of useful organic molecules.

Direct oxidative carboxylation of olefins for the synthesis of cyclic organic carbonates

249th National Meeting (2015)

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