Christopher J. Whiteoak

The synthesis of bio‐derived cyclic carbonates is attracting a lot of attention as the incorporation of bio‐derived functionality into these compounds provides the opportunity to prepare previously unknown structures, whilst also improving their sustainability profiles. This study presents a facile preparation of diastereomerically pure bio‐derived cyclic carbonates displaying a range of optical rotation values. These compounds are obtained from glycidol, amino acids and CO 2 in a facile two‐step approach. Initially, the diastereomerically pure amino acid functionalised epoxides are prepared through a robust Steglich esterification of enantiopure glycidol ( R or S ) and an amino acid ( D or L ). Thereafter, in a second step, cycloaddition of the epoxide with CO 2 results in the retention of the initial stereochemistry of the epoxide, furnishing novel diastereomerically pure and optically active cyclic carbonate products. A DFT study has explained the basis of this observed retention of configuration for these compounds. Further, results from this DFT study also provide new mechanistic information concerning a co‐catalyst‐free cycloaddition reaction starting from glycidol when using the gallium‐catalyst, which is found to operate through metal‐ligand cooperativity.