The two-step synthesis of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and phenol has been compared in liquid phase
and gas phase, both over heterogeneous catalysts. In the first step, equilibrium yields of methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) in
the transesterification of DMC and phenol were very low at low temperatures in the liquid phase although reaction rates were
fast. This endothermic reaction was more favorable at high temperatures in the gas-phase reaction. Titanium oxide catalysts
supported on SiO
2 or activated carbon were found to be effective in a continuous gas flow reactor. In case of the second step, the disproportionation
of MPC, selective formation of DPC was not feasible in the gas-phase reaction due to extensive side reactions. However, there
was no by-product in the liquid-phase reaction over the TiO
2/SiO
2 catalyst. Therefore, our proposed two-step synthesis process consists of the gas-phase transesterification of DMC and phenol
followed by the liquid-phase disproportionation of MPC to DPC, both over the TiO
2/SiO
2 catalyst.
gas-phase transesterification - methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) - disproportionation - diphenyl carbonate (DPC) - TiO2/SiO2 catalyst
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.