N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed synthesis of dimethyl carbonate via transesterification of ethylene carbonate with methanol

Abstract

An organocatalytic protocol for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate has been developed. Under the catalysis of 5 mol% N-heterocyclic carbenes, ethylene carbonate undergoes transesterification reaction with methanol under very mild reaction conditions, producing dimethyl carbonate with high efficiency. Furthermore, this N-heterocyclic carbene promoted transesterification can be scaled-up easily without lose of the conversion of dimethyl carbonate.

Keywords

• N-heterocyclic carbene
• Dimethyl carbonate
• Transesterification
• Ethylene carbonate