Coordination complexes as catalysts for the coupling reactions of oxiranes and carbon dioxide

The use of carbon dioxide as an alternative feedstock for the production of polymeric materials represents a promising strategy for the valorization of CO2. In this regard, there remains much current attention focusing on the synthesis of polycarbonates from CO2 and epoxides. The use of metal coordination complexes as catalysts for the alternating copolymerization process under mild reaction conditions has significantly advanced our synthetic capability and mechanistic understanding of these coupling reactions. This review’s focal point is the advancements made in the area of CO2/epoxide polymerization processes involving a variety of main group and transition metal complexes as catalysts for the preparation of these thermoplastics. A brief discussion of the development of organocatalysts, whose design is based on their metal counterparts, is also presented.