Chiral Macrocyclic Organocatalysts for Kinetic Resolution of Disubstituted Epoxides with Carbon Dioxide

Among chiral macrocycles <b>1</b> synthesized, <b>1m</b> with the 3,5-bis­(trifluoromethyl)­phenylethynyl group was the best organocatalyst for the enantioselective synthesis of cyclic carbonates from disubstituted or monosubstituted epoxides and CO₂. The X-ray crystal structure of <b>1m</b> revealed a well-defined chiral cavity with multiple hydrogen-bonding sites that is suitable for the enantioselective activation of epoxides. A catalytic cycle proposed was supported by DFT calculations