Rare Earth Complex Catalysts Transforming CO2 into Cyclic Carbonate under Mild Conditions

A highly efficient catalyst system was designed and fabricated based on the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and propylene oxide. The reaction of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide that generates propylene carbonate (PC) when catalyzed by N-heterocyclic ligands (Bipy, Hdpa, Hdpza and Napy) and rare earth metal salts system was investigated. Also, the influence of the ligand structure for catalytic performance was analyzed. Different reaction conditions including temperature, pressure and reducing metal were studied to optimize reaction conditions.