Functionalized SBA-15 material with grafted CO2H group as an efficient heterogeneous acid catalyst for the fixation of CO2 on epoxides under atmospheric pressure

Carboxylic acid functionalized SBA-15 material AFS-1 has been synthesized through post synthetic route and the mesophase of the material has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and N-2 adsorption/desorption studies. Post-synthesis functionalization resulted high loading of carboxylic acid groups at the surface of highly ordered mesoporous silica. The material showed excellent catalytic activity for the production of cyclic carbonates from a wide range of epoxides in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The catalyst can be reused five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.