Development of Difficult Substrate Conversion Reaction toward Carbon Dioxide Utilization

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Precise Formation of a Catalyst Having a Specified Field for Use in Extremely Difficult Substrate Conversion Reactions
• Project/Area Number: 15H05796
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: NOZAKI Kyoko 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 教授 (60222197)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 合成化学 / 高分子合成 / 有機化学 / 均一系触媒 / 再生可能資源

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have accomplished three research projects to realize effective use of carbon dioxide: (1) The highest level of catalytic activity was achieved in the formic acid production by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide with organic base. Since formic acid can be purified by distillation, the method opens a new route to its practical use in industry. (2) In the synthesis of aliphatic polycarbonate by the alternating copolymerization of epoxide and carbon dioxide, the highest level of turnover number was accomplished. (3) In our trials to use carbon dioxide in its reaction with C-C and C-O double bonds, we developed a new reaction to afford alpha-hydroxyacids from aldehydes and carbon dioxide.

Free Research Field

有機合成化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

二酸化炭素は炭素化合物の燃焼最終生成物であり、熱力学的に安定な、不活性な化合物である。一方で、二酸化炭素は安価で豊富な炭素資源であり、その有効利用は科学的興味に留まらず社会的にも大きなインパクトをもつ。本研究で達成された二酸化炭素の変換反応のうち、ギ酸の合成と脂肪族ポリ炭酸エステルの合成はいずれも世界最高レベルの活性を達成しており、工業的に用いられるレベルに至った。また、α-ヒロキシカルボン酸合成は、医農薬合成中間体の合成法として今後の展開が期待できる。