Transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with allyl alcohol in the presence of basic catalysts

Abstract

Transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with allyl alcohol in the presence of bases afforded a mixture of alkyl allyl carbonate and diallyl carbonate. Dimethyl carbonate was found to be the most reactive and was used to obtain both unsymmetric allyl methyl carbonate and symmetric diallyl carbonate. Sodium and potassium alkoxides were more efficient catalysts for the transesterification compared to the corresponding hydroxides. The highest degree of transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (69%) was achieved using sodium alkoxide as a catalyst.