Addition of CO₂ to Styrenes

Carbon dioxide is an extremely attractive carbon source but there are few direct reactions of CO₂ with organic molecules (for a review see Chem Rev, 2007, 107, 2365).  A new paper from the group of Rovis at Colorado describes the addition of CO₂ to olefins (J Am Chem Soc, 2008, 130, 14936).  They have shown that 1% nickel complex also works.