Co(III) porphyrin/DMAP:: an efficient catalyst system for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides

COTPP(Cl)/DMAP was found to be a highly active catalyst system for the chemical fixation of CO2 via reaction with epoxides. The corresponding cyclic carbonate products are produced in high yield and selectivity for a variety of terminal mono and disubstituted epoxides. 1,2-Disubstituted internal epoxides were also investigated as substrates and found to react with very high stereo specificity.