Cyclic amidine hydroiodide for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates and cyclic dithiocarbonates from carbon dioxide or carbon disulfide under mild conditions

Hydroiodides of amidines can catalyze the reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides under mild conditions such as ordinary pressure and ambient temperature, and the corresponding five-membered cyclic carbonates were obtained in high yields. The reaction of epoxide with carbon disulfide was also examined under the same conditions. Detailed investigation showed that the catalytic activity was highly affected by the counter anions of the amidine salts; the iodides were effective catalysts for both of the reaction of epoxide with carbon dioxide and carbon disulfide, whereas the bromide, chloride and fluoride counterparts exhibited almost no catalysis.