Influence of Mesoporous Silica Properties on Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis Catalysed by Supported Aluminium(Salen) Complexes

By modification of pore size and morphology, pore-expanded variants of SBA-15 and KIT-6 have been utilised as mesoporous silica supports for the immobilisation of a bimetallic aluminium-salen complex. The performance of the resulting heterogeneous catalysts in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and terminal epoxides was assessed. Support materials which retained higher pore volume and surface areas after catalyst immobilisation demonstrated enhanced conversions to the desired cyclic carbonates. This was rationalised to be a consequence of the promotion of reactant mass transport through a less-inhibited pore structure. (Figure presented.).