Synthesis of organic cyclic carbonates assisted by macroporous polystyrene-based catalyst

An easy-to-prepare recyclable catalyst of quaternary ammonium nature and based on commercially available and inexpensive macroporous polymeric sorbent Purolite A103 resin has been devised for the carbon dioxide addition to epoxides. The catalyst can be easily separated due to its 0.6–0.85 mm bead size and recycled at least seven times. The catalyst makes it possible to carry out the reaction under solvent-free conditions. It is insensitive to the steric and electronic effects of various epoxy substrates.