Poly(ethylene glycol)s as Ligands in Calcium-Catalyzed Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis.

Herein the use of CaI in combination with poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEG DME 500) as an efficient catalyst system for the addition of CO to epoxides is reported. This protocol is based on a nontoxic and abundant metal in conjunction with a polymeric ligand. Fifteen terminal epoxides were converted at room temperature to give the desired products in yields up to 99 %. Notably, this system was also effective for the synthesis of twelve challenging internal carbonates in yields up to 98 %.