Direct oxidative carboxylation of styrene to styrene carbonate in the presence of ionic liquids

Styrene carbonate is synthesized by a direct benign route from styrene and compressed CO2 in the presence of ionic liquid, in which two sequential reactions of epoxidation and cycloaddition are coupled for a one-pot synthesis. The structure of ionic liquids and the nucleophilicity of anions strongly affect the yield of styrene carbonate formed and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) is the most effective catalyst. Other reaction parameters such as CO2 pressure, reaction temperature, time, and TBAB concentration have also been investigated and a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.