Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide by Using Organocatalysts

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates through coupling of carbon dioxide with epoxides is 100 % atom economical and is already performed on an industrial scale. Its impact regarding the use of carbon dioxide as a renewable carbon source is expected to grow significantly in the near future, so that the development of efficient catalysts is of high interest in academia and industry. To improve the carbon footprint and sustainability of the cycloaddition reaction, the use of organocatalytic methods is a promising approach. Herein, available metal‐free catalysts for the preparation of cyclic carbonates are described and elaborated concerning the overall sustainability of the process. Therefore, the required reaction conditions, as well as the activity of the catalysts and their reusability, are compared and evaluated. In addition to ammonium‐, phosphonium‐, or imidazolium‐based single‐component catalysts and their supported analogues, the growing field of research concerning dual catalysts are also discussed in detail. Sustaining cycles: This review presents the state‐of‐the art strategies to convert carbon dioxide and epoxides into cyclic carbonates by using bifunctional organocatalysts with special regard to activity, carbon footprints, recycling, and the applicability of the highlighted systems on a large scale.