Glycidol is converted into glycerol carbonate (GC) by coupling with CO2 in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) under mild reaction conditions (T=60 °C, PCO2 =1 MPa) in excellent yields (99 %) and short reaction time (t=3 h). The unusual reactivity of this substrate compared to other epoxides, such as propylene oxide, under the same reaction conditions is clearly related to the presence of a hydroxyl functionality on the oxirane ring. Density functional theory calculations (DFT) supported by (1) H NMR experiments reveal that the unique behavior of this substrate is a result of the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds into a dimeric structure, activating this molecule to nucleophilic attack, and allowing the formation of GC. Furthermore, the glycidol/TBAB catalytic system acts as an efficient organocatalyst for the cycloaddition of CO2 to various oxiranes.

Glycidol: an Hydroxyl-Containing Epoxide Playing the Double Role of Substrate and Catalyst for CO2 Cycloaddition Reactions

DELLA MONICA, FRANCESCO;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Glycidol is converted into glycerol carbonate (GC) by coupling with CO2 in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) under mild reaction conditions (T=60 °C, PCO2 =1 MPa) in excellent yields (99 %) and short reaction time (t=3 h). The unusual reactivity of this substrate compared to other epoxides, such as propylene oxide, under the same reaction conditions is clearly related to the presence of a hydroxyl functionality on the oxirane ring. Density functional theory calculations (DFT) supported by (1) H NMR experiments reveal that the unique behavior of this substrate is a result of the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds into a dimeric structure, activating this molecule to nucleophilic attack, and allowing the formation of GC. Furthermore, the glycidol/TBAB catalytic system acts as an efficient organocatalyst for the cycloaddition of CO2 to various oxiranes.
2016
2016
carbon dioxide; cycloaddition; density functional theory; epoxide; hydrogen bond
DELLA MONICA, Francesco; Buonerba, Antonio; Grassi, Alfonso; Capacchione, Carmine; Milione, Stefano
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2129288
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