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Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate from Carbon Dioxide and Methanol at Room Temperature Using Imidazolium
Tianxiang Zhao1, Xingbang Hu1, Dongsheng Wu1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 and CH3 OH was achieved at room temperature with 74 % CH3 OH conversion in the presence of an imidazolium hydrogen carbonate ionic liquid ([Cn Cm Im][HCO3 ]). Experimental and theoretical results reveal that [Cn Cm Im][HCO3 ] can transform quickly into a CO2 adduct, which serves as an effective catalyst and dehydrant. Its dehydration ability is reversible. The energy barrier of the rate-determining step for the DMC synthesis is only 21.7 kcal mol-1 . The ionic liquid can be reused easily without a significant loss of its catalytic and dehydrating ability.
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