A Triple‐Catalytic, Fully Biogenic Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates

Organic carbonates play a central role as functional platform molecules for the manufacture of materials and chemicals. The atom‐economical formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO 2 under mild catalytic conditions is a prime example of the concept of green chemistry. However, the sustainability of such strategies is often limited by the unfavorable parameters of the epoxide formation from olefin oxidation. Herein, a new, highly sustainable, triple‐catalytic approach to the formation of biogenic cyclic carbonates from all‐natural building blocks is documented. Three biogenic resources (fatty acid derivatives, O 2 , CO 2 ) are combined with 100% atom‐economy in the presence of easily accessible catalysts (porphyrin, VO(acac) 2 , pyridine). Key step is a photo‐oxygenation with full incorporation of O 2 into hydrocarbons. Use of the resultant cyclic carbonates in the synthesis of environmentally benign non‐isocyanate polyurethanes is demonstrated.