Oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC): a new catalytic system☆

Abstract Oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethylcarbonate catalysed by cobalt complexes is reported. Cobalt complexes with oxygen and or nitrogen donor ligands such as carboxylate, acetylacetonate, picolinate and Schiff bases are suitable catalysts. The oxidative carbonylation of methanol catalysed by cobalt complexes which has never been reported, affords dimethylcarbonate with remarkably high selectivities. Of the cobalt complexes, those with Schiff bases show the highest reactivity. The influence of co-solvents was also examined.