Dimethyl carbonate

Description

Dimethyl carbonate is a colorless flammable liquid that was originally made by the reaction of 2 moles of methanol with 1 mole of phosgene. But because of phosgene''s extreme toxicity, it is now manufactured by the transesterification of propylene carbonate and methanol or the copper-catalyzed reaction of methanol, oxygen, and carbon monoxide. Dimethyl carbonate is increasingly used as a?methylating agent in place of hazardous, waste-generating compounds, such as dimethyl sulfate and methyl halides.

The Uses of Dimethyl carbonate

Dimethyl carbonate is used as a solvent in organic synthesis and considered as a replacement for solvent like methyl ethyl ketone, tert-butyl acetate and parachlorobenzotrifluoride. It is involved as an intermediate in the preparation of diphenylcarbonate, which in turn is used as a key raw material for the synthesis of Bisphenol-A-polycarbonate. It is also used as a 'green' methylating agent involved in the methylation of aniline, phenols and carboxylic acids. It can be used as a fuel additive due to its high oxygen content. It also finds applications related to supercapacitors and lithium batteries.