Cobalt nanoparticle catalyst with magnetic recoverability for high-performance epoxide carbonylation to β-lactones with high selectivity

초록

The carbonylation of epoxides to β-lactones is an attractive route for sustainable chemical production but remains constrained by the instability of [Co(CO)₄]– and the limited activity of current catalysts. We report a cobalt nanoparticle catalyst supported on carbon (Co NPs-C) that, with [(TPP)CrCl], delivers unprecedented performance, achieving a turnover number (TON) of 230000 and a productivity of 11000 mol/(mol-Cr·h). Mechanistic studies reveal in-situ generation of [Co(CO)₄]– from Co NPs, with synergistic Lewis acid activation ensuring high β-lactone selectivity. The catalyst is recyclable and scalable to > 200 g, offering a practical platform for industrial β-lactone synthesis and highlighting the promise of nanoparticle-based cobalt catalysis.

키워드