Construction of stable heterogeneous catalysts with alkali metals loaded on weakly alkaline carbon-nitrogen materials for transesterification

Abstract

It is important to enhance the basicity of solid catalysts for the application of heterogeneous catalysts in the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate. Notably, the role of the carrier in the supported solid base catalyst cannot be ignored. Herein, the catalyst (named 1.0Ca/g-C3N4 (M)), prepared by one-step thermal polymerization, achieved a yield of 68.4 % and a selectivity of 96.8 % for DMC and maintained its performance after four consecutive cycles at 130 °C. It could be seen from the characterization that the amino group on the surface of the carrier, as an electron pushing group, endowed the Ca connected at its end with more abundant valence electrons, so that the catalyst exhibited a higher alkalinity. This study provides a new reference for the development of multiphase catalysts in transesterification reactions.