The carbonylation of formaldehyde with carbon monoxide was carried out over
two kinds of cation-exchange resins as solid acid catalysts. Effects of re
action conditions on the catalytic performance were studied. From H-1 NMR,
C-13 NMR, IR, and GC-MS analyses of the products obtained, ii. was found th
at 1,3-dioxolan-4-one (1,3-DOX-4) is selectively produced over the cation-e
xchange resins. The carbonylation of formaldehyde with carbon monoxide over
the cation-exchange resins proceeds under milder reaction conditions, as c
ompared with HZSM-5 zeolite.