Isolation of a Pyridinium Alkoxy Ion Bridged Dimeric Zinc Complex for the Coupling Reactions of CO2 and Epoxides

Abstract

The intermediate itself is an active species: The pyridinium alkoxy ion bridged zinc complex 1, formed by the reaction of [(C6H5N)2ZnBr2] and propylene oxide, is an intermediate in the coupling reaction of CO2 and epoxides catalyzed by zinc(II) complexes in conjunction with a Lewis base (here, pyridine). The X-ray structure elucidation of 1 as well as activity tests with various zinc complexes containing substituted pyridine ligands provides insight into the mechanism of the coupling reaction.