Dibutyltin oxide (Bu2SnO)(n) (3) reacts with methanol to give the tetrabutyl(dimethoxy) stannoxane dimer (4). The presence of 2,2-dimethoxypropane under a CO2 pressure accelerates the reaction resulting in nearly quantitative yield. Complex 4 exhibits catalytic activity as high as that of {Bu2Sn(OMe)(2)}(2) (1) in the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO2 and methanol. These results indicate that the conversion of 3 to 4 occurs under catalytic DMC production conditions. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.