Patent ID: 7491837

Claim:
An integrated 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 chlorine-free carbonation catalyst, wherein the carbonation catalyst is [1,1′(1-butylbenzimidazol-2yl)pentane]copper(II) di(trifluoromethanesulfonate), at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. 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 said catalyst; and (b) reacting said cyclic carbonate with said aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of said catalyst to provide a crude product stream comprising said dialkyl carbonate and said diol, wherein said crude product stream exhibits a chloride concentration of about 5 ppm or less.