Advancement of catalyst systems towards the formation of acrylates from CO₂ and ethylene

Catalytic CO₂ conversion has always been a fascinating area of research in chemistry. CO₂ being a highly abundant and commercially cheap carbon feedstock, it is immensely appealing if such conversion could be advanced to novel economical and sustainable routes to take over the existing industrial processes for accessing highly demanding organic products. Acrylic acid is produced industrially by two-step catalytic processes involving partial oxidation of propylene. Catalytic acrylic acid production by a direct oxidative C–C coupling between olefin and CO₂ has remained a great challenge for the research community due to unfavorable thermodynamics. However, reactions conducted in the presence of a suitable base leading to the acrylate product were envisaged to shed some light on this end. Indeed, this domain of exploration has gained significant interest, especially towards achieving a direct catalytic carboxylation of ethylene by CO₂. While several earlier reviews probed into catalyst systems associated with this research, the recently surfaced promising catalysts remained unaddressed. These developments provide vital insights for designing high-performance materials in intentional applications and commercial technologies for catalytic acrylate production. Examining these developments creates an opportunity for more sustainable processes, utilizing CO₂ as a C1 feedstock, contributing significantly to the circular carbon economy. This review explores the latest advancements, offering a comprehensive overview of the gradual evolution of catalyst systems, and identifying optimal candidates for intentional applications. Special attention is given to proposed reaction mechanisms supported by theoretical studies, enhancing understanding of reaction cycles and suggesting new strategies for better catalyst systems.