Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2015, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 408-413.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60227-8

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Coupling of epoxides and carbon dioxide catalyzed by Brönsted acid ionic liquids

Tao Changa, Xiaorui Gaoa, Li Biana, Xiying Fub, Mingxia Yuana, Huanwang Jingb   

  1. a Engineering Laboratory for Coalbed Gas Exploitation of Hebei Province, College of Science, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, Hebei, China;
    b State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
  • Received:2014-08-11 Revised:2014-09-15 Online:2015-02-14 Published:2015-02-14
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (B2012402001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51202054, 21173106).

Abstract:

A series of Brönsted acid ionic liquids (BAILs) containing a long chain Brönsted acid site in the cationic part and a Lewis basic site in the anionic part were designed, synthesized, and used as catalyst for the coupling of epoxides and carbon dioxide to cyclic carbonates without a co-catalyst or co-solvent. The effects of catalyst structure and other parameters on the catalytic performance were investigated. The long chain 2-(N,N-dimethyldodecylammonium) acetic acid bromide ([(CH2COOH)DMDA]Br) showed high catalytic activity and good reusability. This protocol was expanded to various epoxides, which gave the corresponding cyclic carbonates in good yields. The acidity of the catalyst influenced its catalytic activity.

Key words: Carbon dioxide fixation, Coupling reaction, Brönsted acidic ionic liquid, Cyclic carbonate, Hammett acidity