Metal Acetylacetonates as Highly Efficient and Cost Effective Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from CO2 and Epoxides

Metal acetylacetonates were found to be efficient and cost effective catalysts for the formation of cyclic carbonates by cycloaddition of carbon dioxide with epoxides, providing high to excellent yields of the corresponding carbonates. Among the various catalysts such as acetylacetonates of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr and VO studied, Ni(acac)(2) was found to be promising catalyst for this reaction. The present methodology was found to be superior due to the easy accessibility and comparatively inexpensive nature of metal acetylacetonates than salen complexes. The catalytic efficiency of various metal acetylacetonate complexes for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates by the reaction of epoxides and carbon dioxide is described. Among the various metal derivatives Ni(acac)(2) is found to be promising catalyst.