Gas-phase carbonylation of dimethoxymethane to methyl methoxyacetate over the Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 catalyst

It has been shown that cesium hydrogen phosphotungstate Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 is a promising catalyst of the gas-phase carbonylation of dimethoxymethane (DMM) to methyl methoxyacetate (MMA). This catalyst provided the MMA selectivity and yield of 54% and 40%, respectively, under mild experimental conditions: T = 110°C, P = 10 bar, and GHSV = 6000 h–1 for DMM/CO/Ar = 4/76/20 mol/mol/mol. The carbonylation of DMM to MMA is accompanied by side reactions of DMM disproportionation into dimethyl ether (DME) and methyl formate (MF), as well as by secondary side reactions of MF decomposition into methanol and CO and methanol dehydration into DME.