Heterogeneous conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates at ambient pressure catalyzed by ionothermal-derived meso-macroporous hierarchical poly(ionic liquid)s

• DOI: 10.1039/c5sc02050f
• Publication Date: 2015-08-27T14:01:04Z
• Authors: Xiaochen Wang; Yu Zhou; Zengjing Guo; Guojian Chen; Jing Li; Yuming Shi; Yangqing Liu; Jun Wang
• Keywords: Ambient pressure

Meso-macroporous hierarchical poly(ionic liquid)s (MPILs) with extremely high ionic site densities and tunable pore structures were ionothermally synthesized through the free radical self-polymerization of our newly designed rigid bis-vinylimidazolium salt monomer. The synthesis avoided use any templates, gave a yield (>99%) allowed recycling IL solvent; thus it is facile, atom-efficient, environmentally friendly sustainable. MPILs possessed distinctive features polycation matrices, abundant halogen anions, large surface areas. They not only presented enhanced CO2 capture, but led to breakthroughs in heterogeneous catalytic conversion into cyclic carbonates: (1) unprecedented activity at atmospheric pressure low temperature; (2) good substrate compatibility, even being active towards inert aliphatic long carbon-chain alkyl epoxides. This result renders first occasion metal-solvent-additive recyclable cycloaddition such mild conditions.