Abstract: The catalytic activity of KF/MgO for the synthesis of didodecyl carbonate (DDC) by transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with dodecanol (DoOH) was studied. The effects of KF loading and calcination temperature were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction,?Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N₂ adsorption-desorption. The results indicated that new phases K₂MgF₄ and K₂CO₃ were formed when KF/MgO was calcined in air at high temperature. K₂MgF₄ and K₂CO₃ were the main catalytic sites in this reaction. KF/MgO was an effective catalyst in this transesterification reaction and the optimized KF loading and calcination temperature were 30% and 873 K, respectively. The optimized reaction conditions were as follows: n(DoOH):n(DMC) = 4, catalyst amount 0.75%, reaction time 4 h. Under these conditions, the conversion of DMC and the yield of DDC were 86.7% and 86.2%, respectively.

Key words: dimethyl carbonate, transesterification, didodecyl carbonate, potassium fluoride, magnesium oxide, supported catalyst