Research Progress on the Coupling of CO2 with Epoxides Catalyzed by Covalent Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an ideal C1 resource, and its coupling with epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates is an effective route for CO2 resource utilization. As heterogeneous catalysts, covalent organic framework (COFs) possess advantages such as large specific surface area, stable structure, and designable active components and have emerged as hotspot materials for heterogeneous catalysis research. This paper focuses on the preparation of cyclic carbonates by coupling CO2 with epoxides, first elucidating the coupling mechanism between CO2 and epoxides as well as the influence of active components on the reaction rate. Subsequently, taking typical COF catalysts as examples, the design concepts, structural characteristics, performance advantages, and catalytic mechanisms of different types of COF catalysts are described in detail. Finally, in view of the current bottlenecks of COF catalysts in synthesis optimization, multifunctional design, and product selectivity stability, optimization suggestions are proposed from the aspects of pore microenvironment regulation, theoretical calculation-assisted catalyst design, multi-component synergistic catalysis, and structure–activity relationships between functional monomers and catalysts, aiming to provide a reference for the development of efficient catalysts for coupling CO2 with epoxides.