The transesterification of dimethyl carbonate and phenol catalyzed by 12-molybdophosphoric salts

Various 12-molybdophosphoric salts were used in the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and phenol to diphenyl carbonate (DPC) and methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) as novel solid catalysts. The zinc salt was found to exhibit the highest activity for the transesterification. Several parameters affecting the transesterification were investigated. When the reaction was performed between 150 °C and 180 °C, with a molar ratio of phenol to DMC of 1, a reaction time 12 h, a catalyst amount 0.004 (molar ratio to phenol), the conversion of phenol reached 31%, and the selectivity of MPC and DPC was 29% and 66.1%, respectively. The TON reached 74.8 mol (MPC + DPC)/mol Zn-salt.