The Synthesis of R-propylene Carbonate

Propylene carbonate has been widely applied in the pharmaceutical industry as pharmaceutical intermediates.This study focused on the synthesis of R-propylene carbonate.Propylene oxide was treated with water in the presence of chiral catalyst to afford chiral 1,2-propylene glycol in good yield and enatioselectivity by means of kinetic resolution of ring-open reaction.The chiral propylene carbonate was obtained via the transesterification reaction of chiral 1,2-propylene glycol and diethyl carbonate in high yield. The synthesis method with mild conditions and environmental friendliness,has added a new method for synthesizing R-propylene carbonate.