Catalytic Activation of small molecules with metal complexes : CO2 and O2

Catalytic transformation of carbon dioxide into useful organic compounds has attracted much attention due to its economic and environmental benefits. In addition, other reasons are also taken into account, such as the possible utilization of CO2 as a renewable source chemical and the growing concern of the greenhouse effect. CO2 is an abundant, cheap, and safe C1 building block in organic synthesis. However, due to the inert nature of CO2, efficient catalytic processes of its chemical fixation remain a significant challenge. In this work, we have studied a possible pathway for practical utilization of CO2. The reaction of CO2 with epoxides giving cyclic carbonates, has been investigated. New catalyst systems based on cobalt capable of catalyzing the chemical transformation of carbon dioxide are described in detail. Oxygen is a cheap, readily available and environmentally friendly natural oxidant. The catalytic activation of molecular oxygen has great potential in a variety of applications. Catalysis and reactions, which are based on molecular oxygen, can also be considered to be ecologically benign processes. Moreover, catalytic reactions in water are highly desirable in terms of green chemistry. In this context, our purpose was to develop an environmentally friendly catalytic systems, suitable for oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen in water solution. In this part of the work, efficient catalysts, based on copper complexes have been synthesized and studied in the presence of TEMPO for the oxidation of benzyl and aliphatic alcohols with molecular oxygen in aqueous and nonaqueous medium