Synthesis of Carbonates from Alcohols and CO2

Abstract

Alcohols are ubiquitous compounds in nature that offer modular building blocks for synthetic chemistry. Here we discuss the most recent development of different classes of alcohols and their coupling chemistry with carbon dioxide as to afford linear and cyclic carbonates, the challenges associated with their formation, and the potential of this chemistry to revive a waste carbon feed stock.

Keywords: Carbon dioxide; Carboxylative cyclization; Cyclic carbonates; Diols; Heterogeneous catalysis; Homoallylic alcohols; Homogeneous catalysis; Linear carbonates; Propargylic alcohols.