Discovered “spring-loaded” mechanism gains insight into CO2 cycloaddition catalysis

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Wang and coworkers reported a “spring-loaded” mechanism for the rational design of hydroxyl functional imidazolium salt-based ionic liquids (ILs) for the chemical fixation of CO2 into cyclic carbonates under mild conditions, suggesting the determining parameters for the IL-catalyzed CO2 cycloaddition catalysis.