PRODUCTION OF CARBONIC ACID ESTER

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the subject compound in high selectivity and yield while reducing the combustion loss of CO by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with CO and O2 in the presence of a main catalyst consisting of a platinum-group compound and a copper salt and a cocatalyst consisting of a basic alkaline-earth metal salt. CONSTITUTION:The objective compound such as dimethyl carbonate useful as an intermediate for the production of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals, intermediate for the production of engineering plastics and solvent can be produced by reacting an aliphatic alcohol (e.g. methanol) with CO and O2 50-200 deg.C under a CO partial pressure of 0.5-20kg/cm<2> and an O2 partial pressure of 0.05-10kg/cm<2> in batch process or continuous process in liquid phase in the presence of a main catalyst consisting of a platinum-group compound (e.g. palladium chloride) and a copper salt (e.g. cuprous chloride) and a cocatalyst consisting of a basic alkaline-earth metal salt (e.g. magnesium methoxide) and an alkaline-earth metal halide (e.g. magnesium chloride) to increase the solubility of the copper salt. The aliphatic alcohol is used usually in excess to play the role of a reaction solvent.