Metal organic frameworks as catalysts in the conversion of CO2 to cyclic carbonates

The effective utilization of CO2 as a renewable raw material for the production of useful chemicals is an area of enormous interest. In particular, the catalytic conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates, which are useful chemical intermediates employed for the production of plastics and organic solvents, represents an attractive route for the efficient use of carbon dioxide. The development of superior performance catalysts requires novel materials with fundamentally different structural, compositional, adsorption and transport properties than those of conventional zeolite, metal oxides or metal phases. In this respect, metal organic frameworks have emerged as a novel type of crystalline porous materials which combine highly desirable properties, such as uniform micropores, high surface areas, flexible chemistries and exceptionally high thermal and chemical stability, making them ideal candidates for catalytic applications. Herein, we discuss the catalytic activity of two prototypical metal organic frameworks, namely ZIF-8 and Cu-3(BTC)(2) in the synthesis of chloropropene carbonate from CO2 and epichlorohydrin.