New Route for the Catalytic Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate

Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate(DMC) from propylene oxide(PO),carbon dioxide and methanol was investigated.Tetrabutyl ammonium bromide and sodium methoxide were used as catalyst for the reaction.It was found that under the reaction conditions of T=423?K,P=4?MPa selectivity of DMC was 55.8%,and selectivity of the by products was 1.4%,when the two components of the catalyst were added separately in two steps.These results were much better than those of the case when the two components were added simultaneously.