Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from carbon dioxide: catalysis and mechanism

✍ Scribed by Toshiyasu Sakakura; Jun-Chul Choi; Yuko Saito; Takeshi Sako

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 216 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0277-5387
• DOI: 10.1016/s0277-5387(99)00411-8

✦ Synopsis

The turnover number of the catalytic production of dimethyl carbonate from CO 2 and methanol is restricted by thermodynamics as well as catalyst decomposition. The catalytic efficiency is remarkably improved using an acetal as the starting material in methanol. The catalytic activity and selectivity also depend strongly on the CO 2 pressure. A possible catalytic cycle involving transformation of CO 2 to dimethyl carbonate is postulated based on mechanistic studies at a molecular level.