Economical synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and halohydrins using K2CO3

Abstract

A highly simple, economical, and selective synthesis of five-membered cyclic carbonates was achieved by the reaction of CO₂ with 1,2-halohydrins in the presence of K₂CO₃. This method allows the efficient preparation of cyclic carbonates (72–95% yields for monosubstituted cyclic carbonates and 43% for 1,1- and 1,2-disubstituted cyclic carbonates) under mild reaction conditions, atmospheric pressure of CO₂ at 30 °C, and not only in dry DMF, but also in commercial “anhydrous” DMF. The reaction mechanism was elucidated using the SEM and XRD data of the by-products, KHCO₃ and KBr.