Development of a Halide-Free Aluminium-Based Catalyst for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide

Kinetic studies of the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycidol and carbon dioxide have been carried out. These showed that under suitable reaction conditions, bimetallic aluminium(salen) complex 4 is able to catalyse the conversion of epoxides into the corresponding cyclic carbonates without the need for a co-catalyst.