'Ring-expansion addition' of epoxides using applied potential: an investigation of catalysts for atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide utilization

Interest in the use of CO as a feedstock for preparation of value-added compounds has dramatically increased over the past decade. We herein investigate the insertion of atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide under electrosynthetic conditions into epoxides. The initial investigations involved the use of either a nickel or copper based catalyst, however, upon further optimisation and careful selection of electrode materials we found that these catalysts were not required for efficient carbon dioxide insertion to occur.