Imidazolium-based titanosilicate nanospheres as active catalysts in carbon dioxide conversion: Towards a cascade reaction from alkenes to cyclic carbonates

Abstract Porous silica-based nanospheres bearing titanium centres as single site were successfully synthesized employing a time- and energy-efficient procedure. The influence of the post-synthesis treatment on insertion Ti was investigated via DR UV–Vis XPS spectroscopy content quantified through ICP-OES analysis. textural structural properties different solids evaluated XRD, TEM N2 physisorption. resulting materials thereafter covalently functionalized with imidazolium chloride, followed by characterization 29Si 13C solid-state NMR, physisorption chemical combustion bi-functional catalysts tested in challenging conversion CO2 cyclohexene oxide to corresponding cyclic carbonate well various other epoxides excellent results. played key role substantially improving activity solids. most active material recovered reused multiple cycle without loss catalytic activity. Moreover, epoxidation reaction mono-functionalized Ti-based material. mixture, composed mono-functional solids, efficiently used convert into subsequently thus opening prospect for cascade reaction.