Enhancements of dimethyl carbonate synthesis from methanol and carbon dioxide: The in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine and crystal face effect of ceria

This paper describes the effect of the in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine and its derivatives on the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 and methanol over CeO2. 2-Cyanopyridine, with the highest electronic charge number of the carbon in the cyanogroup, is the most effective agent to accelerate the desired reaction by a decrease of water. CeO2 (1 1 0) planes are active for the hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine, further enhancing the DMC formation by in situ removal of water effectively. The DMC yield is improved drastically up to 378.5 mmol g cat(-1) from 12.8 mmol g cat(-1) with the in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine over rod-CeO2 (1 1 0) catalyst. (C) 2015 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.