Carbene

Context (archaeology)

Catalysis

Intramolecular force

Enantioselective synthesis

Composite number

Engineering

Biology

Materials science

Reaction mechanism

Carbon monoxide

Carbon fibers

Chemical engineering

Paleontology

Combinatorial chemistry

Organic chemistry

Cycloaddition

Substituent

Environmental science

Organocatalysis

Composite material

Pincer movement

Chemistry

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

ACS Catalysis

A series of pincer-type compounds possessing an N-heterocyclic carbene precursor and a carboxyl group as proton transfer agent were synthesized and used as organocatalysts for the cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2. In this context, we have demonstrated the high activity of these one-component organocatalysts in the CO2 transformation to cyclic carbonates under ambient conditions (room temperature, 1 bar of CO2). The catalytic potential of these multifunctional organocatalysts on challenging internal epoxides is particularly deserving of mention because organocatalysts that are able to mediate the cycloaddition reaction of internal epoxides with CO2 under mild conditions remain scarce. The intramolecular synergistic activation mechanism was elucidated by control experiments and DFT calculations.

Cooperative Multifunctional Organocatalysts for Ambient Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Cyclic Carbonates