Patent ID: 7453007
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising: (a) reacting an alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a carbonation catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 50 to 250° C. and at a pressure of at least about 1379 kPa (200 psi) to provide a crude cyclic carbonate stream comprising a cyclic carbonate and carbonation catalyst; and (b) reacting said cyclic carbonate and a hydroxy alkyl carbonate with said aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, thereby producing a crude product stream comprising said dialkyl carbonate, said diol and said hydroxy alkyl carbonate; and (c) separating said hydroxy alkyl carbonate from said crude product stream and recycling said hydroxy alkyl carbonate to step (b).