Dimethyl carbonate as a green chemical

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is an established solvent and a green reagent which continues to attract attention. It is a nonpolar aprotic solvent with good miscibility with water, biodegrades readily in the atmosphere, and is non-toxic. DMC is classified in the greenest "recommended" bracket according to the solvent selection guide, and can be a potential replacement for methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, and most other ketones. Currently, the most prevalent commercial pathway for the production of DMC is through oxidative carbonylation of methanol using O-2; in addition, new alternative processes for DMC from CO2 are being developed. DMC has found several applications such as the electrolyte in lithium rechargeable batteries and as a solvent in several reactions including pharmaceutically relevant synthesis and in biocatalysis. This report provides a brief overview of physical-thermodynamic-, toxicological- and ecotoxicological properties, production methods, reactivity, and applications of DMC as an environmentally benign chemical in chemical-and biotechnical processes.