Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO cycloaddition to bio-based epoxides and glycerol: an overview of recent development.

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO) emissions contribute significantly to global warming and deplete fossil carbon resources, prompting a shift to bio-based raw materials. The two main technologies for reducing CO emissions are capturing and either storing or utilizing it. However, while capture and storage have high reduction potential, they lack economic feasibility. Conversely, by utilizing the CO captured from streams and air to produce valuable products, it can become an asset and curb greenhouse gas effects. CO is a challenging C1-building block due to its high kinetic inertness and thermodynamic stability, requiring high temperature and pressure conditions and a reactive catalytic system. Nonetheless, cyclic carbonate production by reacting epoxides and CO is a promising green and sustainable chemistry reaction, with enormous potential applications as an electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries, a green solvent, and a monomer in polycarbonate production. This review focuses on the most recent developments in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from glycerol and bio-based epoxides, as well as efficient methods for chemically transforming CO using flow chemistry and novel reactor designs.