Utilization Of Co2 For The Production Of Cyclic Beta-Triketone Type Insecticides

The management and conversion of CO2 into high value-added and/or widely used products have been attracting considerable attention this century. However, new pathways for CO2 transformation have been rarely reported for years. Here, we used CO2 to produce insecticides. Insecticides had a global market valued at 14.51 billion USD in 2017 and an estimated compound annual growth rate of 5.8% from 2017 to 2022. We reacted CO2 (1 atm) with 1,3-cyclohexanedione to give 2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid and derivatives for the first time. We then reacted the carboxylation products with aniline to obtain cyclohex-1-enecarboxamide type insecticides, which further afforded commercial cyclic beta-triketone type insecticides. This new route facilitates the sustainable use of CO2, while at the same time providing a green, environmentally-friendly, and economical method for insecticide production.