Organocatalyzed Synthesis of Oleochemical Carbonates from CO2 and Renewables

Bifunctional phosphorus‐based organocatalysts proved to be highly efficient for the atom‐economic reaction of CO2 and epoxidized oleochemicals. Notably, those products are obtained from CO2 and renewable feedstocks only. Structure–activity relationships have been deduced from a screening of 22 organocatalysts in a test reaction. Bifunctional catalysts based on a phosphonium salt bearing a simple phenolic moiety proved to be extraordinarily active under comparatively mild and solvent‐free reaction conditions. In the presence of the most active organocatalyst 12 oleochemical carbonates were isolated in excellent yields up to 99 %. This organocatalyzed reaction represents an excellent example for the realization of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry as well as the 12 Principles of CO2 Chemistry.