Carbon dioxide is an ideal synthetic feedstock for its non-flammability

relative non-toxicity

inexpensiveness

and abundance in nature. Also

aliphatic polycarbonates made from CO

2

and epoxides are biodegradable polymeric materials. Therefore

much attention has been paid to the copolymerization of carbon dioxide with epoxides to produce aliphatic polycarbonate. A significant amount of research has been directed toward the development of catalysts with improved activity and selectivity. The present paper gives an overview on the recent progress in the research of catalysts for such a copolymerization process.