Efficient Synthesis of Propylene Carbonate over Bimetallic Fe─Cu/SBA‐15 Catalyst from CO ₂ and Propylene Oxide

Abstract The direct synthesis of propylene carbonate (PC) from propylene oxide (PO) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) without the use of solvents was investigated utilizing bimetallic Fe─Cu/SBA‐15 catalysts. The Fe─Cu/SBA‐15 catalyst was prepared using the sol–gel method and was thoroughly characterized for understanding the nanostructure, morphology, and chemical composition. The catalytic performance was assessed under mild reaction conditions, specifically at atmospheric CO 2 pressure, using PO as the substrate. Key reaction parameters, including temperature, catalyst dosage, and reaction time, were systematically optimized. Among the catalysts tested, 5 Fe─Cu/SBA‐15 exhibited superior activity, achieving an impressive PO conversion of 87% and PC selectivity of 95% under optimized conditions. The addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as a co‐catalyst is necessary for obtaining maximum product yields. Further, the synergistic interaction between Fe and Cu was investigated, revealing that both metal species serve as active sites in catalysis. This bimetallic mesoporous material shows high recyclability for the PC synthesis, suggesting a wider scope of this work.