Synthetic Routes to Crystalline Complex Metal Alkyl Carbonates and Hydroxycarbonates via Sol–Gel Chemistry—Perspectives for Advanced Materials in Catalysis

Metal alkoxides are easily available and versatile precursors for functional materials, such as solid catalysts. However, the poor solubility of metal in organic solvents usually hinders their facile application sol–gel processes complicates access to complex carbonate or oxidic compounds after hydrolysis precursors. In our contribution we have therefore shown three different solubilization strategies alkoxides, namely derivatization, hetero-metallization CO2 insertion. The latter strategy leads a stoichiometric insertion into metal–oxygen bond alkoxide subsequent formation alkyl carbonates. These can then be employed advantageously chemistry and, controlled hydrolysis, result chemically defined crystalline carbonates hydroxycarbonates. Cu- Zn-containing hydroxycarbonates were used an exemplary study synthesis Cu/Zn-based bulk catalysts methanol with final comparable catalytic activity commercial standard reference