A CO2/H2O2-tunable reaction: direct conversion of styrene into styrene carbonate catalyzed by sodium phosphotungstate/n-Bu4NBr

Inspired by biomimetic oxybromination, a binary catalyst system composed of sodium phosphotungstate and n-Bu4NBr (TBAB) was developed for facile synthesis of styrene carbonate in a single operation from styrene and CO2 using 30% H2O2 as an oxidant. Notably, the presence of a base like NaHCO3 markedly improved the formation of styrene carbonate. Interestingly, an oxidized product, i.e. phenacyl benzoate, could be obtained exclusively in good yield directly from styrene in the absence of CO2 under the appropriate reaction conditions.