Carbon Dioxide Utilisation for the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Dialkyl and Cyclic Carbonates Promoted by Basic Ionic Liquids

An efficient and greener synthesis of unsymmetrical organic carbonates mediated by Hünig’s base-appended basic ionic liquids, via carbon dioxide conversion, is described here. These ionic liquids were found to be effective bases for the fixation of carbon dioxide by various alcohols and benzyl bromide, at room temperature. When the alcohol and the halide functionalities are present within the same substrate, the reaction cleanly produces a cyclic carbonate. These functionalised basic ionic liquids were fully recyclable with no loss product yields.