Reaction of dibutyltin oxide with methanol under CO 2 pressure relevant to catalytic dimethyl carbonate synthesis

Abstract

Dibutyltin oxide (Bu 2SnO) n ( 3) reacts with methanol to give the tetrabutyl(dimethoxy)stannoxane dimer ( 4). The presence of 2,2-dimethoxypropane under a CO 2 pressure accelerates the reaction resulting in nearly quantitative yield. Complex 4 exhibits catalytic activity as high as that of {Bu 2Sn(OMe) 2} 2 ( 1) in the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO 2 and methanol. These results indicate that the conversion of 3 to 4 occurs under catalytic DMC production conditions.