Halide-free CO cycloaddition onto styrene oxide catalysed by first row transition-metal derivatives of polyoxotungstates.

Quaternary ammonium salts of metal derivatives of polyoxometalates [XWOM(HO)] (X = P, Si; M = Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) were successfully tested instead of quaternary ammonium halides as catalysts in the cycloaddition of CO to styrene oxide. Remarkably, they gave very satisfactory yields of styrene carbonate at moderate temperature (80 °C).