REVIEWSABSTRACT: The utilization of CO 2 as a renewable raw material for the production of chemicals is an area of great societal importance. In particular, the catalytic conversion of CO 2 into cyclic carbonates, which are useful chemical intermediates used for the production of plastics and organic solvents, represents an appealing approach for the efficient use of CO 2 . Microporous crystals, such as zeolites and metal organic frameworks, and ordered mesoporous phases have emerged as novel porous materials that combine highly desirable properties, such as uniform pores on the microscale and mesoscale, high surface areas, flexible chemistries, and exceptional thermal and chemical stability; this makes them ideal candidates for catalytic applications. In this review, representative examples demonstrating the catalytic ability of these porous materials for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO 2 are presented. The fundamental structure/catalysis relationships of these porous phases in the conversion of CO 2 into cyclic carbonates are discussed. V C 2013Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39738.