Novel and effective strategy of dual bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide imidazolium ionic liquid immobilized on periodic mesoporous organosilica for greener cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epoxides

Abstract

Novel periodic mesoporous organosilica supported nanocatalysts with different loading levels of a bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion-based dual imidazolium ionic liquid have been prepared and evaluated as efficient catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides. The as-fabricated PMO@IL-NTf₂(1.0) exhibited the best catalytic performance with excellent conversions (98–100%) and yields (96–99%) at 90 °C and 0.6 MPa for 0.5–1 h, based on a synergistic effect between the dual nucleophilic anion sites of the imidazolium ionic liquid and the hydroxyl group sites of periodic mesoporous organosilica. The excellent recyclability and operational simplicity make this protocol economic and environment-friendly.