Carboxylation reactions for the sustainable manufacture of chemicals and monomers

Carboxylation stands out as one of the most versatile and viable routes for carbon dioxide fixation, a crucial chemical transformation essential for advancing capture technologies and fostering a sustainable industry. The carboxylic acids and derivatives produced through this process hold considerable interest for various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and polymers. Presently, most of these chemicals are derived from non-renewable resources, underscoring the imperative need to develop sustainable pathways for their synthesis. The inherent stability of the CO2 molecule, owing to its high oxidation state and linear configuration, poses significant challenges for activation. Diverse approaches, including photochemical, electrochemical, enzymatic, and thermochemical carboxylation have been explored. While noteworthy results have been achieved with these methods, substantial efforts are still required to facilitate their scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of each of these routes, elucidating their respective strengths and weaknesses. Emphasis is placed on thermochemical routes, given their proximity to potential industrial-scale application. Carboxylation is a promising and versatile technology for producing industrially valuable products, being a potential process for future use of captured CO2. Enzymatic and thermochemical routes are the closest to being scaled up.