Direct conversion of CO₂ with diols, aminoalcohols and diamines to cyclic carbonates, cyclic carbamates and cyclic ureas using heterogeneous catalysts

CO 2 has a large effect on global warming by greenhouse gases, and development of an effective technique for the reduction of CO 2 is a crucial and urgent issue. From the chemical viewpoint, CO 2 is regarded as a stable, safe and abundant C1 resource, and the transformation of CO 2 to valuable chemicals is promising not only for reduction of CO 2 but also for production of useful chemicals. This mini‐review focuses on the direct conversion of CO 2 with diols, aminoalcohols and diamines to cyclic compounds such as cyclic carbonates, cyclic carbamates and cyclic ureas, and in particular discusses the mechanisms for these reactions over heterogeneous catalysts.