This week’s issue of Chemistry – A European Journal shows a trinuclear complex, based on a tetraoxo bis-Zn(salphen) supramolecular host, which catalyses the formation of cyclic organic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ in its back cover.

This novel supramolecular approach, developed by Arjan Kleij‘s team, results in bifunctional catalysts that combine the binding of a Lewis acid cation and nucleophilic anions within the same structure in the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides. These catalysts are very stable and can be easily recycled without a significant loss of activity. Furthermore, they do not require any additives and can be used under solvent-free conditions.

Prof. Kleij and his team have designed a very promising supramolecular approach towards catalyst immobilization and recycling.