Non-phosgene route for the synthesis of methyl phenyl carbamate using ordered AlSBA-15 catalyst

Abstract

Methyl phenyl carbamate (MPC) has been synthesized under liquid phase conditions from dimethyl carbonate and aniline by using mesoporous AlSBA-15 catalyst. The catalyst with different Si/Al ratio was synthesized by isomorphous substitution of aluminium into the framework of siliceous SBA-15. The structural integrity of the catalyst system was diagnosed with the help of various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, surface analysis, and the acidity measurement has been done by TPD using ammonia as probe molecule. AlSBA-15 (Si/Al = 10) exhibited highest catalytic activity in the synthesis of MPC under the reaction conditions studied. The effect of parameters such as molar ratio of reactants, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and time on the conversion of aniline was investigated. The results demonstrated that an aniline conversion of 99% and MPC selectivity of 71% were achieved when the reaction was carried out at 100 °C, DMC to aniline mole ratio of 10 with 5% of catalyst (wt% of total reaction mixture) for 3 h.