Two diastereomers of d-limonene-derived five-membered cyclic carbonates were prepared from the corresponding isomers of d-limonene oxide with CO2. Their syntheses were catalyzed by commercially available tetrabutylammonium chloride with high stereoselectivity. The reaction behavior dependent on the reaction conditions such as CO2 pressure was clarified.

In order to produce versatile and potentially functional terpene-based compounds, a (R)-limonene-derived diol and its corresponding five-membered cyclic carbonate were prepared. The diol (cyclic carbonate) comprises four diastereomers based on the stereochemical configuration of the diol (and cyclic carbonate) moiety. By choosing the appropriate starting compounds (trans- and cis-limonene oxide) and conditions, the desired diastereomers were synthesised in moderate to high yields with, in most cases, high stereoselectivity. Comparison of the NMR data of the obtained diols and carbonates revealed that the four different diastereomers of each compound could be distinguished by reference to their characteristic signals.