Influence of Solvent on Reaction Path to Synthesis of Methyl N-Phenyl Carbamate from Aniline, CO2 and Methanol

Methyl N-phenyl carbamate (MPC), an important organic chemical, can be synthesized from aniline, CO2 and methanol. Catalyst Cu-Fe/ZrO2-SiO2 was first prepared and its catalytic performance for MPC synthesis was evaluated. Then the influence of solvent on the reaction path of MPC synthesis was investigated. It is found that the reaction intermediate is different with acetonitrile or methanol as a solvent. With acetonitrile as a solvent, the synthesis of MPC follows the reaction path with diphenyl urea as the intermediate, while with methanol as a solvent the reaction occurs via the reaction path with dimethyl carbonate as the intermediate. The catalytic mechanism of cooperative catalysis comprising metal sites, Lewis acid sites and Lewis base sites is proposed according to different reaction intermediates.