NaCl catalyzed transesterification and hydrolysis of ethylene carbonate

Sodium chloride (NaCl) was used as catalyst for the production of bulk chemicals of dimethyl carbonate and ethylene glycol by transesterification of ethylene carbonate with methanol first time in high activity with a TON of 770. Mechanism studies by kinetic isotope effect measurements and DFT calculations indicated that NaCl acted as Lewis base to catalyze transesterification via the SN2 mechanism. Moreover, NaCl was demonstrated to be an effective catalyst for the hydrolysis of ethylene carbonate.