Effects of ionic liquid in the catalyst preparation of MgO-CeO2 mixed oxide for dimethyl carbonate synthesis via transesterification

The synthesis and application of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are achieving increasing importance due to its low toxicity and versatile reactivity. DMC can be used as environmentfriendly intermediate and starting material for organic synthesis via carbonylation and it can replace methylating agents such as dimethyl sulphate and methyl halides [1–3]. DMC is also being considered as a component for replacing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an oxygencontaining additive for gasoline, owing to its high oxygen content, good blending octane and quick biodegradation [4]. Moreover, DMC can be used in lithium batteries as an electrolyte due to its high dielectric constant [5].