Peculiarities of fluoride activation of porphyrin and phthalocyanine catalysts by the example of zirconium and hafnium in the production of cyclic carbonates

In this work, we have shown that fluoride additives can increase the catalytic activity of even 5- and 6-period metal complexes. Using tetraphenylporphyrin and phthalocyanine hafnium complexes as an example we were able to lower catalyst loading to 500 ppm. It was found out that after reaction tetraphenylporphyrin complex decomposed with the formation of meso‑tetraphenylporphyrin. Such process did not occur with the phthalocyanine complex. Moreover, in the presence of the fluoride additive hafnium tetrachloride showed high catalytic activity similar to both tetraphenylporphyrin and phthalocyanine comlpexes.