Cu-based catalysts for synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation

The complex catalysts Cu_xBr_nL_m were prepared by combination of quaternary ammonium salt and CuBr₂ and effects of several inorganic additives on catalytic performance of Cu_xBr_nL_m were investigated. The results showed that the catalytic performance of the complex catalyst for oxidative carbonylation of methanol was excellent. The conversion of methanol reached 26.9% and the selectivity of DMC reached 97.8% while K₂CO₃ was added. The complex catalysts were characterized by methods of fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), element analysis (EA) and inductively couple plasma (ICP). The results indicated that the complex catalyst was Cu₂Br₆L₂, the complexing agent and inorganic additives could promote formation of Cu(I) active species for DMC synthesis and Cu(I) was main active center of the catalyst.