Abstract: Advances in the reaction mechanism for Pd-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate were reviewed. The validation of the reaction mechanism and how to realize the efficient recycle of the Pd-catalyzed system were introduced in detail. The catalytic mechanism for the oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate showed that diphenyl carbonate was produced by the insertion of CO into thePd-Obond and subsequent reductive elimination of intermediate Pd(COOPh)(OPh). The aggregation of Pd0 could be reduced and the regeneration rate of active Pd2+from Pd0 could be improved to accelerate the catalytic recycle by the addition of ligands and redox promoters into the Pd catalyst. The problems existing in the reaction system were summarized, and the direction for research and development of the catalyst system was pointed out.

Key words: phenol, oxidative carbonylation, diphenyl carbonate, palladium, catalyst, reaction mechanism