Selectivity of the cyclic carbonate formation by fixation of carbon dioxide into epoxides catalyzed by Lewis bases

Cyclic carbonate and polycarbonate have been selectively obtained with good conversion by coupling carbon dioxide with diglycidylether of bisphenol A. The ruthenium trichloride supported on tetraethylammonium bromide and polyphosphotungstic acid has been found active and selective to produce the corresponding monomeric and polymeric carbonates. These catalysts can be recycled keeping their high product conversion and selectivity. The heteropolyacid itself showed high activity also under supercritical CO(2) conditions to yield polycarbonate. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.