Green synthesized cobalt-bipyridine constructed conjugated microporous polymer: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for cycloaddition of epoxides via CO2 fixation under ambient conditions

The conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable cyclic carbonates has been of intensive interest owing to the 100% atomic economy. Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are attractive porous materials contain organic functionalities for applications in gas capture, energy storage, and catalysis. Herein, we developed a new synthesis method of CMP, obtained at room temperature which is one of the ?dream reaction?, possessing large surface areas (1356 m2/g) and exhibiting excellent CO2 capture (77.26 cm3/g at 273.15 K/1.00 bar). After loading cobalt acetate, we obtained Co-coordinated CMP (named as TBB-BPY-Co), exhibiting extraordinary activities (turnover frequencies of up to 250 h-1) for the coupling epoxides with CO2 forming cyclic carbonates at room temperature and atmospheric with free-solvent. Moreover, the heterogeneous catalyst showed even better catalytic efficiency than relevant homogeneous catalyst and a higher recyclability (up to 10 times). This study provided an effective and efficient strategy for the carbon dioxide conversion of industrial and economic value.

Automated summary

This study developed a new method to synthesize conjugated microporous polymers with excellent CO2 capture performance, and successfully prepared a heterogeneous catalyst with a turnover frequency of up to 250 h-1 at room temperature for the reaction of coupling epoxides with CO2 to form cyclic carbonates. The research provides an efficient strategy for the conversion of carbon dioxide with industrial and economic value.