Themed collection Carbon dioxide conversion

Welcome to this themed issue describing the latest advances made in the area of CO₂ catalysis and conversion with a focus on its use in organic synthesis.

The latest progress in chemical conversions of CO₂ into useful compounds is overviewed.

In this mini-review, progress made in the use of ionic liquid catalysts and related systems for cycloaddition reactions of carbon dioxide with epoxides is described with the primary focus on results from the past eight years.

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ into fuel-related products, e.g. methanol, is highlighted in combination with mechanistic understanding on a molecular level.

The reaction between CO₂ and propylene oxide in the presence of Nb(EtO)₅ and 4-dimethylaminopyridine leads to the formation of an acyclic carbonate through an unprecedented pathway.

Catalytic hydrosilylation of CO₂ is an efficient and selective approach to form chemicals. Herein, we describe the first iron catalysts able to promote the reductive functionalization of CO₂ using hydrosilanes as reductants. Iron(II) salts supported by phosphine donors enable the conversion of CO₂ to formamide and methylamine derivatives under mild reaction conditions.

The synthesis of a range of zinc complexes based on ligands displaying an N₂O₂-framework with cyanoacrylate and/or malonate functionality is presented.

Copper based TiO₂ monolithic structures threaded with optical fibers exhibit better activity than pure TiO₂ for CO₂ reduction under visible or UV light irradiation.

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of [Cr(babhq)OAc^F(EtOH)] (OAc^F− = CF₃CO₂⁻) as well as the application of the complex as the catalyst in the reaction of CO₂ with epoxides.

Imidazolium bromides combined with niobium(V) choride were used as catalyst system for the reaction of CO₂ with epoxides to cyclic carbonates. The variation of the cation structure strongly affects the properties of the imidazolium salt and therefore the catalytic activity.

Photofuel cells comprising WO₃ and layered double hydroxide converted gaseous CO₂ into methanol whereas hydrogen was formed in the aqueous phase.

The zinc bicarbonate complex, [κ⁴-Tptm]ZnOCO₂H, is reduced by PhSiH₃ to give the formate derivative, [κ⁴-Tptm]ZnO₂CH, via a sequence that involves release of CO₂ followed by insertion into a zinc–hydride bond.

Cyclic carbonate synthesis from an epoxide is achieved by sparging CO₂ at 1 bar into the solution using an aluminium/TBAB catalyst.

Alkylated Zn(salpyr) complexes (salpyr = N,N′-bis[salicylidene]-3,4-pyridinediamine) were prepared and used as catalyst precursors for the formation of cyclic carbonates from a range of (functional) epoxides and CO₂.

Multilayered covalently supported ionic liquid catalysts achieve excellent TON and productivity in the reaction of CO₂ with various epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates.

A catalytic mechanism involved in the cycloaddition of propylene oxide onto CO₂ catalyzed by ammonium and guanidinium salts is proposed.

Incorporation of alkali hydroxide into smectite significantly enhances the catalytic activity for the synthesis of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione from carbon dioxide and 2-aminobenzonitrile, which has been ascribed to the formation of NaOH particles on the surface of the smectite layer.

Chromium complexes of tri- and tetradentate amine-bis(phenolate) ligands in combination with chloride, azide or DMAP nucleophiles are effective catalysts for the copolymerization of CO₂ with cyclohexene oxide to give polycarbonates.

Covalently linked amine functionalized MCM-41 was investigated as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of various quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione derivatives from 2-aminobenzonitriles and carbon dioxide in water.

A copper(I)-catalyzed reaction of 2-alkynylaniline with CO₂ using DBU as base to produce 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives in moderate to good yield is presented.

Porous MgO–TiO₂ microspheres prepared by a one-pot spray pyrolysis method significantly enhance the activity and stability in CO₂ photoreduction with water vapor.

A trimetallic aluminium complex catalyses the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ at room temperature and pressure.

Urea-derived graphitic carbon nitrides (u-g-C₃N₄) were prepared under different temperatures as catalysts for CO₂ conversion into cyclic carbonates.