Sulfonic acid functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 as catalyst for styrene carbonate synthesis from CO2 and styrene oxide at moderate reaction conditions

A sulfonic acid tethered mesoporous silica material (SBA-15-SO3H) was successfully synthesized and characterized using SAXS, N-2 physisorption studies, TEM, EA and XPS. This metal-free heterogeneous catalyst with terabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) co-catalyst was found to be an efficient catalyst system for styrene carbonate synthesis from CO2 and styrene oxide. The synergistic mechanistic pathways of SBA-15-SO3H with TBAB have been explained by hydrogen bond interactions and nucleophilic effects. A turn over number of 920 was obtained at mild reaction temperature of 80 degrees C. The catalyst was thermally stable and reused for five times without loss of any significant activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.