Styrene carbonate synthesis from CO2 using tetrabutylammonium bromide as a non-supported heterogeneous catalyst phase

•CO2 was used as a reactant in the production of styrene carbonate from styrene epoxide.•The influence of phase behaviour on the reaction yield was studied.•At high pressures, TBABr was used as a heterogeneous catalyst phase.

The production of cyclic styrene carbonate from CO2 cycloaddition to styrene oxide, using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) as catalyst, was investigated. Two different reaction systems, a CO2-rich and an epoxide-rich were studied. Reactions were performed in a visual high pressure cell, at different temperatures (313.2, 333.2, and 353.2 K) and pressures (0.5–18 MPa). High pressure phase behaviour manipulation of the reaction system was explored to shift catalysis from homogeneous to heterogeneous, by changing operation conditions. Styrene carbonate formation was monitored quantitatively by using 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide