St. King, REACTION-MECHANISM OF OXIDATIVE CARBONYLATION OF METHANOL TO DIMETHYLCARBONATE IN CU-Y ZEOLITE, Journal of catalysis, 161(2), 1996, pp. 530-538
The Cu(I)Y catalyst, as prepared by solid-state ion exchange at 650 de
grees C, shows higher productivity and less deactivation than the know
n carbon-supported CuCl2 catalyst for gas-phase oxidative carbonylatio
n of methanol to make dimethyl carbonate. The ion-exchanged Cu(II)Y sh
owed very little activity for the same reaction. An in situ FTIR techn
ique was applied to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The first step i
s the oxidation of methanol and Cu(I) to from Cu(II)-methoxide. The in
sertion of CO to Cu(II)-methoxide, forming probably a carbomethoxide,
is the rate-limiting step. Finally, methanol and oxygen react with car
bomethoxide to from dimethyl carbonate. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.