This mini-review reports the current routes used for the production of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a
green and versatile methylating reactant widely used in organic synthesis. The use of DMC in methylation processes
is also discussed. The main routes of DMC production, encompassing the reaction between phosgene and
methanol and the oxidative carbonylation of methanol with CO and urea methanolysis, are summarised. However,
none of them can be considered entirely green, and the drawbacks in terms of green chemistry principles
are addressed. The present commercial route to DMC, which involves the initial reaction of CO2 with ethylene
oxide to produce ethylene carbonate that further reacts with excess methanol, is also explored regarding the
green chemistry principles. Moreover, this review focuses on the direct DMC production from the reaction of
methanol and CO2, discussing catalysts and strategies to shift equilibrium. An emphasis is given to heterogeneous
catalysts, especially those based on CeO2. A final remark on the production of DMC through the capture of
CO2 using chitosan-derived adsorbents and renewable methanol is addressed.