Single-walled carbon nanotubes-based catalysts for the efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates

Novel imidazolium based supported catalysts were synthesised by grafting different imidazolium salts on single-walled carbon nanotubes in a one-pot procedure. These materials were characterized by combustion chemical analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, N2 physisorption and tested as catalysts in the reaction of CO2 with different epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates. The material prepared by supporting a bis-vinylimidazolium salt was the most promising catalyst, displaying high turnover numbers and improved productivity compared to known supported ionic liquid catalysts. Further studies were performed on the most active catalyst to optimize the reaction conditions, to test the reusability and to investigate the versatility with different substrates.