Abstract
Treatment of aldehydes with sulfur ylide (CH2=SOMe2 or CH2=SMe2), in the presence of CO2 (1 atm) bubbled sequentially under mild conditions, produces cyclic carbonates in preparative yields. Sodium iodide formed in situ promotes the reaction between epoxide as intermediate and CO2 at ambient conditions, thus constituting a powerful metal-free synthesis of organic cyclic carbonates directly from aldehydes.