Developing Coinage Metal Catalysts To Incorporate Carbon Dioxide Into Alkynic-Based Carbon Frameworks

This thesis explores the development, characterisation and optimisation of a series of novel, highly efficient coinage metal (CM) catalytic systems based on chelating nitrogen-donor (N,N and N,O) ligands for the synthesis of cyclic α-alkylidene carbonates and carbamates. These CO2-incorporated compounds are highly valuable intermediates with applications in biological, pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields. Carbon dioxide serves as a potentially valuable and highly accessible C1 feedstock. However, its application in industrial processes is comparatively limited due to thermodynamic constraints and a general inertness towards C-activation. Despite these restrictions, recent interest has driven the development of specialised homogeneous catalysts that incorporate CO2 into various organic frameworks, including propargylic-functionalised substrates.