Production
Dimethyl carbonate can be prepared by the reaction of phosgene with methanol via methyl chloroformate:
- COCl2 + CH3OH → CH3OCOCl + HCl
- CH3OCOCl + CH3OH → CH3OCO2CH3 + HCl
Overall:
- COCl2 + 2 CH3OH → CH3OCO2CH3 + 2 HCl
This historical synthesis process is undesirable because of phosgene's toxicity and has been largely replaced by other synthesis routes. It is produced industrially by a transesterification of propylene carbonate and methanol, which also affords propylene glycol. A second large scale commercial synthesis route uses a process where carbon monoxide, methanol and oxygen are reacted to form dimethyl carbonate. World production in 1997 was estimated at 1000 barrels a day. Production of dimethyl carbonate worldwide is limited to Asia and Europe.
Read more about this topic: Dimethyl Carbonate
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