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

The coupling reaction of carbon dioxide and
2,3-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene catalyzed by
(salen)CrIIICl, H2salen = 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.