Chemical fixation of CO2 with highly efficient ZnCl2/[BMIm]Br catalyst system

The chemical fixation of CO2 with mono-substituted terminal epoxides or cyclohexene oxide to form cyclic carbonates under the ZnCl2/[BMIm]Br catalyst system without using additional organic solvents was achieved in excellent selectivity (>98%) and TOF (5410 h(-1)) and the catalyst could be used six times almost without losing its catalytic activity and selectivity. Besides, the pure cis-cyclic carbonate of cyclohexene oxide was obtained in this catalyst system. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.