The ability to transform the greenhouse gas CO₂ into valuable chemical products is one of the Holy Grails in chemistry nowadays. However, converting CO₂ into other chemicals is very challenging due to its high thermodynamic stability.

In this paper, which is highlighted in the cover of Catalysis Science & Technology, Arjan W. Kleij and his co-workers find that improving the contact between all the components of the Zn (salphen) catalytic addition of CO₂ to epoxides improves the yield of the resultant carbonate synthesis.

They do that by using carbon dioxide in the supercritical state and working under solvent-free conditions. The supercritical CO₂ acts both as a reagent and as a solvent.

Kleij and his team obtain excellent yields and selectivity in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates with a green, solvent-free process.