An aluminum porphyrin complex with high activity and selectivity for cyclic carbonate synthesis

Abstract

An aluminum porphyrin complex with a quaternary ammonium salt cocatalyst exhibits high activity (i.e., a turnover frequency as high as 1.85 × 10⁵ h⁻¹) and selectivity (>99%) for cyclic carbonates synthesis from CO₂ and epoxides; the catalyst can be reused at least 4 times with only a slight loss in activity.