Synthesis of cyclic carbonates by photothermal catalytic coupling of CO2 and epoxides under solvent-free conditions

The conversion of CO 2 to cyclic carbonate under mild conditions is an effective strategy to achieve carbon neutrality . This work reports the formation of cyclic carbonates by coupling CO 2 with epoxides using a photothermal catalyst (CoFe 2 O 4 @PDA) with added organic ligands of bimetals under atmospheric pressure, solvent-free, 70 °C and UV light irradiation. The addition of ligands substantially enhanced the photothermal catalytic performance of the catalysts as verified by various characterizations. Subsequent experimental results under optimal conditions showed excellent yields of the catalysts for the conversion of epoxides with different groups to the corresponding cyclic carbonates. The cycling results also indicate good recyclability of the catalyst. This pathway in using light as a driving reaction to fix CO 2 for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate provides a new idea for subsequent photothermal catalytic fixation of CO 2 .