Chiral Macrocyclic Organocatalysts for Kinetic Resolution of Disubstituted Epoxides with Carbon Dioxide

Among chiral macrocycles 1 synthesized, 1m with the 3,5-bis­(trifluoromethyl)­phenylethynyl group was the best organocatalyst for the enantioselective synthesis of cyclic carbonates from disubstituted or monosubstituted epoxides and CO2. The X-ray crystal structure of 1m revealed a well-defined chiral cavity with multiple hydrogen-bonding sites that is suitable for the enantioselective activation of epoxides. A catalytic cycle proposed was supported by DFT calculations.