Preparation of Dimethyl Carbonate from Methanol and Carbon Dioxide in the Presence of Organotin Compounds

Dibutyltin dialkoxides react with methanol and carbon dioxide to give dimethyl carbonate in 60 to 220 mole % yields with respect to the organotin compound. The higher yields of the carbonate (150 up to 330 mole %) have been achieved with the use of chemical scavengers of the reaction water.