Preparation of Dimethyl Carbonate from Methanol and Carbon Dioxide in the Presence of Sn(IV) and Ti(IV) Alkoxides and Metal Acetates

The synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by the reaction of methanol with carbon dioxide in the presence of metal alkoxides and metal carboxylates was studied. The best results have been achieved with Ti(IV) and Sn(IV) alkoxides which at 130 to 180 °C and low CO 2 pressures yield dimethyl carbonate in 30 to 100 mole % or 40 to 130 mole % yields with respect to the metal alkoxides, depending on the carbon dioxide (gaseous and solid one, respectively). The yields can be further increased up to 70 - 190 mole % and 90 - 270 mole %, respectively, by the use of chemical scavengers of the reaction water.