Innovations in Organic Synthetic Reactions in Supercritical Water and Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

In this article, we have dealt not only with the organic synthetic reactions using supercritical water in the absence of acid or base catalysts, but also with the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide to carbonates under supercritical conditions. In the former case, the Beckmann rearrangement to ε-caprolactam and the disproportionation of benzaldehyde to benzylalcohol proceed even without acid and base, respectively. In the latter the yield of carbonates can be enhanced just by pressure and temperature manipulation, giving a maximum yield of 85% in the synthesis of styrene carbonate in the absence of any additional catalysts.