In situ infrared study of oxidative carbonylation of aniline with methanol on Cu-based catalysts

Oxidative carbonylation of amines with alcohols provides an environmentally benign pathway to isocyanates and carbamates. Currently, the most active catalysts for the oxidative carbonylation of aniline with methanol are Pd-based catalysts. To further improve the economic feasibility of the carbamate synthesis process, we have investigated the activity of CuCl2-NaI, CuCl2-NaCl, and CuCl-NaI at 438 K and 0.41 MPa by in situ infrared spectroscopy. The activity of the catalysts for carbamate synthesis increased in the order: CuCl2-NaCl