A bimetallic iron(iii) catalyst for CO₂/epoxide coupling

Antoine Buchard, Michael R. Kember, Karl G. Sandeman, Charlotte K. Williams

OAI: oai:purehost.bath.ac.uk:publications/f7d3ae9f-6cb7-40d1-a563-331af5e8ce6c • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C0CC02205E

A novel di-iron(iii) catalyst for the copolymerisation of cyclohexene oxide and CO2 to yield poly(cyclohexene carbonate), under mild conditions, is reported. The catalyst selectivity was completely changed on addition of an ammonium co-catalyst to yield only the cis-isomer of the cyclic carbonate, also under mild conditions. Additionally, the catalyst was active for propylene carbonate and styrene carbonate production at 1 atm pressure.