Ionic liquids grafted on carbon nanotubes as highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

A variety of multi-walled carbon nanotubes grafted with immidazolium-based ionic liquids (CNT-ILs) were synthesized and utilized as highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the production of cyclic carbonates via cylcoaddition reactions of epoxides and CO. In comparison with conventional heterogeneous catalysts that employ porous silica and polymer supports, CNT-ILs exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic reactivity towards the cycloaddition reactions. The effects of the IL molecular structure (alkyl chain length and counter anions) and the reaction parameters (temperature, CO pressure, and time) on the catalytic performance of the corresponding heterogeneous catalysts were also systematically investigated