Synthesis of methyl benzoate by methoxycarbonylation of acetophenone with dimethyl carbonate over solid base catalysts

A convenient and simple route for synthesis of methyl benzoate from dimethyl carbonate and acetophenone has been exploited for the first time in the presence of solid base catalysts. The results showed that solid base with moderate strength, such as MgO, facilitated the formation of methyl benzoate and the function of basic catalysts could mainly be attributed to the activation of ketone via the abstraction of Hα by base sites.