Vapor Phase Carbonylation Reactions Using Methyl Nitrite Over Pd Catalysts

Vapor phase carbonylation reactions using methyl nitrite (MN) as an oxidant have been developed by Ube Industries, Ltd. Dimethyl oxalate (DMO) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are synthesized efficiently over Pd(0) and Pd(II) catalysts under mild condition in gas phase, respectively. In these synthesis procedures, two kinds of separate reactions are involved. The first reaction is the catalytic synthesis of DMO or DMC from MN and CO; and the second reaction is non-catalytic MN synthesis from methanol, O2 and NO, which is produced from the first reaction. The high DMO or DMC selectivity and suppression of catalyst deactivation originate from the facts that O2 is not involved and H2O is not produced in the first reaction.