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Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering >> 2009, Volume 3, Issue 1 doi: 10.1007/s11783-008-0068-y

Cationic organobismuth complex as an effective catalyst for conversion of CO

1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University; 2. Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University

Available online: 2009-03-05

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Abstract

In order to achieve high-efficiency conversion of CO into valuable chemicals, and to exploit new applications of organobismuth compounds, cationic organobismuth complex with 5,6,7,12-tetrahydrodibenz[c,f] azabismocine framework was examined for the first time for the coupling of CO into cyclic carbonates, using terminal epoxides as substrates and tetrabutylammonium halide as co-catalyst in a solvent-free environment under mild conditions. It is shown that the catalyst exhibited high activity and selectivity for the coupling reaction of CO with a wide range of terminal epoxide. The selectivity of propylene carbonates could reach 100%, and the maximum turnover frequency was up to 10740 h at 120°C and 3 MPa CO pressure when tetrabutylammonium iodide was used as co-catalyst. Moreover, the catalyst is environment friendly, resistant to air and water, and can be readily reused and recycled without any loss of activity, demonstrating a potential in industrial application.

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