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Abstract
A bimetallic aluminium(salphen) complex is reported as a sustainable, efficient and
inexpensive catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon
dioxide. In the presence of this complex and tetrabutylammonium bromide, terminal
and internal epoxides reacted at 50 °C and 10 bar carbon dioxide pressure to afford
their corresponding cyclic carbonates in yields of 50-94 % and 30-71 % for terminal
and internal cyclic carbonates, respectively. Mechanistic studies using deuterated
epoxides and an analogous monometallic aluminium(salphen) chloride complex support
a mechanism for catalysis by the bimetallic complex, which involves intramolecular
cooperative catalysis between the two aluminium centres.