A new process for the synthesis of diphenyl carbonate from dimethyl carbonate and phenol over heterogeneous catalysts

The two-step synthesis of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and phenol has been compared in liquid phase and gas phase, both over heterogeneous catalysts. In the first step, equilibrium yields of methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) in the transesterification of DMC and phenol were very low at low temperatures in the liquid phase although reaction rates were fast. This endothermic reaction was more favorable at high temperatures in the gas-phase reaction. Titanium oxide catalysts supported on SiO₂ or activated carbon were found to be effective in a continuous gas flow reactor. In case of the second step, the disproportionation of MPC, selective formation of DPC was not feasible in the gas-phase reaction due to extensive side reactions. However, there was no by-product in the liquid-phase reaction over the TiO₂/SiO₂ catalyst. Therefore, our proposed two-step synthesis process consists of the gas-phase transesterification of DMC and phenol followed by the liquid-phase disproportionation of MPC to DPC, both over the TiO₂/SiO₂ catalyst. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.