Electrochemical activation of carbon dioxide: Synthesis of organic carbonates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00664-3

Electrochemically activated CO₂ reacts, under mild conditions, with primary and secondary alcohols bearing a leaving group at the α-position affording the corresponding cyclic carbonates in high yields; unsubstituted alcohols are converted, after addition of EtI, into the corresponding unsymmetrical ethyl carbonates in moderate to good yields. Tertiary alcohols and phenols are stable to the reagent.