Highly Active and Robust Metalloporphyrin Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from a Broad Range of Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide

Bifunctional metalloporphyrins with quaternary ammonium bromides (nucleophiles) at the meta, para, or ortho positions of meso-phenyl groups were synthesized as catalysts for the formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide under solvent-free conditions. The meta-substituted catalysts exhibited high catalytic performance, whereas the para- and ortho-substituted catalysts showed moderate and low activity, respectively. DFT calculations revealed the origin of the advantage of the meta-substituted catalyst, which could use the flexible quaternary ammonium cation at the meta position to stabilize various anionic species generated during catalysis. A zinc(II) porphyrin with eight nucleophiles at the meta positions showed very high catalytic activity (turnover number (TON)=240 000 at 120 °C, turnover frequency (TOF)=31 500h^-1 at 170°C) at an initial CO₂ pressure of 1.7MPa; catalyzed the reaction even at atmospheric CO₂ pressure (balloon) at ambient temperature (20°C); and was applicable to a broad range of substrates, including terminal and internal epoxides. In a fix! Bifunctional metalloporphyrins act as catalysts for the formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ (see scheme). A comparison of the catalytic activities shows the superior performance of meta-substituted catalysts. A robust zinc(II) porphyrin with eight nucleophiles at the meta positions shows the highest catalytic activity and a broad substrate scope, including terminal and internal epoxides.