A highly efficient zeolitic imidazolate framework catalyst for the co-catalyst and solvent free synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2

A zeolitic imidazolate framework possessing LTA topology is investigated for its catalytic potential in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides. The synthesized ZIF-22 was chemically and thermally stable and was analyzed using multiple physico-chemical characterizations such as XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, XPS, TGA, ICP-OES and EA. ZIF-22 was found to afford excellent heterogeneous catalysis with high turnover frequencies (TOF) and selectivity, outperforming the activities exhibited by the previously reported ZIF catalysts. Parameter studies were carried out with various temperature, CO2 pressure, catalyst amount and reaction time and the catalyst was found to have reusable properties over three times with negligible or no loss in catalytic activity. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.