Catalytic Coupling of Carbon Dioxide and 2,3-Epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene in the Presence of a (Salen)CrIIICl Derivative

The coupling reaction of carbon dioxide and 2,3-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene catalyzed by (salen)Cr III Cl, H 2 salen = N, N ‘-bis(3,5-di- tert -butylsalicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediimine, in the presence of a cocatalyst, N -methylimidazole, affords a moderate yield of the cis cyclic carbonate product along with a trace quantity of polycarbonate. The solid-state structures of both the epoxide monomer and the cis cyclic carbonate were determined by X-ray crystallography.