1,3-Dialkylimidazolium-2-carboxylates as versatile N-heterocyclic carbene–CO2 adducts employed in the synthesis of carboxylates and α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates

1,3-Dialkylimidazolium-2-carboxylate compounds of formulas 1a, 2, and 4 have been synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray spectroscopy quite recently. Up today, these compounds have found some interesting applications as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) used as ligands for metal-complexes or in the synthesis of organic compounds and ionic liquids. We have recently reported the use of 1-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium-2-carboxylate and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-2-carboxylate in a CO2-transfer reaction to CH3OH and acetophenone for the synthesis of methylcarbonate and benzoylacetate. The scope of this CO2-transfer reaction has been expanded to several organic compounds with active hydrogen (acetone, cyclohexanone, and benzylcyanide) for the synthesis of carboxylates of pharmaceutical interest, and to propargyl alcohols for the synthesis of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates.