Chinese Journal of Catalysis

Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2006, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (7): 615-618.

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Isotopic Tracer Study on Mechanism of Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate Promoted by K2CO3/CH3I

CAI Zhenqin1,2*, XU Chunming1, ZHAO Suoqi1, XU Zhiming1, SUN Xuewen1, ZHANG Min1   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; 2 Engineering Research Institute of Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Corporation,China Petrochemical Group, Luoyang 471003, Henan, China
  • Received:2006-07-25 Online:2006-07-25 Published:2006-07-25

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Abstract: Direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) by CO insertion into methanol promoted by K2CO3/CH3I was studied by the isotopic tracer technique. It is confirmed that the base catalyst K2CO3 participates in the synthesis process. The carbonyl group of DMC is formed by CO2 insertion, and the two methyl groups of DMC are from methanol and iodomethane, respectively. the DMC formation and the dimethyl ether formation follows the mechanisms proposed in the literature, and the combination of the former mechanisms can well explain the experimental results.

Key words: dimethyl carbonate, synthesis, potassium carbonate, iodomethane;isotopic tracing, mechanism