The effect of a series of organotin(II) compounds of the formulae Bu2SnX2 (X = OMe, OEt, OBu, Cl Br, OPh, OOCMe, OOC(CH2)10Me, SSNEt2; X2 = O, (OH, Cl) and Bu2XSnOSnXBu2 (X = Cl, Br, OOCMe, OBu, n-Bu) in the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by the title reaction was studied. It was found that the most efficient compounds of the series were the tin alkoxides Bu2Sn(OR)2 (R = Me, Et, Bu) which afforded the carbonate in up to 160 mole % yields (with respect to the tin compound) under convenient reaction conditions (low CO2 pressure, 130 - 190 °C, 6 h).
The synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by the reaction of methanol with carbon dioxide in the presence of metal alkoxides and metal carboxylates was studied. The best results have been achieved with Ti(IV) and Sn(IV) alkoxides which at 130 to 180 °C and low CO2 pressures yield dimethyl carbonate in 30 to 100 mole % or 40 to 130 mole % yields with respect to the metal alkoxides, depending on the carbon dioxide (gaseous and solid one, respectively). The yields can be further increased up to 70 - 190 mole % and 90 - 270 mole %, respectively, by the use of chemical scavengers of the reaction water.
Dibutyltin dialkoxides react with methanol and carbon dioxide to give dimethyl carbonate in 60 to 220 mole % yields with respect to the organotin compound. The higher yields of the carbonate (150 up to 330 mole %) have been achieved with the use of chemical scavengers of the reaction water.
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