Three azaphosphatranes were used as organocatalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides. They proved to be efficient single-component, metal-free catalysts for the reaction of simple or activated epoxides (styrene oxide, epichlorohydrin, glycidyl methyl ether) with CO2 under mild reaction conditions, displaying high stability and productivity over several days of reaction. Substitution patterns on the catalyst were shown to affect activity and stability. Kinetic analysis allowed investigation of the reaction mechanism.

Hemicryptophanes are host molecules with many applications as supramolecular catalysts or in ion selective recognition. A very convenient and efficient modular approach for the synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren (tren, tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine) derivatives has been developed. For instance, hemicryptophane 1 was synthesized at the gram scale in four steps from vanillyl alcohol compared to the previous seven-step procedure. The size, shape, and functionalities of the molecular cavity were also easily modified.