Selenium Catalyzed Synthesis of of Carbonates. The Reaction of Alkoxide with Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen in the Presence of Selenium

Abstract

Abstract A novel selenium catalyzed synthetic reaction of carbonates was investigated. The reaction of alkoxides with carbon monoxide in the presence of stoichiometric amount of selenium gave carbonates in high yields under atmospheric pressure at 20°C in THF. When the resultant reaction solution was made to react continuously with the mixture gas of carbon monoxide and oxygen, catalytic formation of carbonates was achieved. Isolation of Se-alkyl monoselenocarbonate from the reaction mixture by addition of alkyl halide indicated that carboalkoxy sodium selenide might be formed as an intermediate in the course of present reaction. In connection with these reactions, the reaction of carbonyl selenide with sodium alkoxide in alcohol was also studied.