Polyethylene glycol enfolded KBr assisted base catalyzed synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide

Polyethylene glycol enfolded potassium bromide, that is, [K⁺{PEG}Br^-] promoted the synthesis of DMC from the reaction of methanol and carbon dioxide (CO₂) using alkali metal based catalyst. The experimental results demonstrated that [K⁺{PEG}Br^-] acted as a promoter and provided up to 12.8% yield with 98% selectivity of dimethyl carbonate (DMC). After completion of the reaction, the reaction products were isolated by distillation and the resulting PEG layer containing potassium bromide (KBr) and potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) was efficiently reused for next six runs without significant loss in DMC yield. After the six run, the yield of DMC was found to be 12.1%. In the absence of [K⁺{PEG}Br^-], the reaction between methanol and CO₂ using K₂CO₃ base catalyst provided only 1-2% yield of DMC.