One-Pot Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate over a Binary Catalyst of an Ionic Liquid and an Alkali Carbonate under Low Pressure

A mild and highly efficient approach has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from epoxide, carbon dioxide, and methanol under low initial pressure. The key to the successful transformation is the use of a bicomponent catalytic system composed of a hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid and an alkali carbonate. This bicomponent catalytic system demonstrated excellent reusability in four runs. Under the optimal reaction conditions, a 64% yield of DMC from propylene oxide and an 81% yield of DMC from ethylene oxide were obtained.

Automated summary

A mild and highly efficient approach has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from epoxide, carbon dioxide, and methanol under low initial pressure. The use of a bicomponent catalytic system composed of a hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid and an alkali carbonate played a key role in the successful transformation. The bicomponent catalytic system demonstrated excellent reusability in four runs and achieved high yields of DMC from both propylene oxide and ethylene oxide under optimal reaction conditions.