Pd/C as a high efficient and reusable catalyst for cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides

•Pd/C was found to synthesize cyclic carbonate in good yield and high selectivity.•The cycloaddition of epoxide and CO2 can take place under extremely mild conditions.•Pd/C could be simply reused for 5 times without significant loss of activity.

Pd/C was found to be an excellent catalyst in the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides with tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as cocatalyst and the corresponding cyclic carbonates were obtained in good yields and high selectivities. 3-Chloropropylene carbonate was synthesized under extremely mild conditions of room temperature and atmosphere. The proposed mechanism was also calculated and confirmed by DFT. The palladium catalyst could be simply recycled and reused for 5 times without significant loss of activity.

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