Carbonate phosphonium salts as catalysts for the transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with diols. The competition between cyclic carbonates and linear …
At 90–120° C, in the presence of methylcarbonate and bicarbonate methyltrioctylphosphonium salts as catalysts ([P8881][A];[A]= MeOCO2 and HOCO2), the transesterification of non-toxic dimethyl-and diethyl-carbonate (DMC and DEC, respectively) with 1, X-diols (2≤ X≤ 6) proceeds towards the formation of cyclic and linear products. In particular, 1, 2-propanediol and ethylene glycol afford propylene-and ethylene-carbonate ...