Halide-free CO2 cycloaddition onto styrene oxide catalysed by first row transition-metal derivatives of polyoxotungstates

Abstract

Quaternary ammonium salts of metal derivatives of polyoxometalates [XW₁₁O₃₉M(H₂O)]ⁿ⁻ (X = P, Si; M = Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) were successfully tested instead of quaternary ammonium halides as catalysts in the cycloaddition of CO₂ to styrene oxide. Remarkably, they gave very satisfactory yields of styrene carbonate at moderate temperature (80 °C).