Selective Conversion of CO2 and Switchable Alcohols into Linear or Cyclic Carbonates via Versatile Zinc Catalysis

It is promising and challenging to achieve the effective construction of carbonates using CO2 and a non-noble metal catalyst. Herein, selective catalytic conversion of CO2 and switchable alcohol candidates to produce linear or cyclic carbonates and α-hydroxy ketones via effective zinc catalyst was developed. A series of primary alcohols and cyclohexanol, 1,2-diols, and water can serve as nucleophiles to give alkyl or aryl 2-substituted-3-oxobutan-2-yl carbonates, substituted 1,3-dioxolan-2-ones, 3-substituted 3-hydroxybutan-2-ones, respectively with excellent selectivity and high yields.