The very high mono-C-methylation selectivity (>99%) of arylacetic acid derivatives (ArCH2X; X = CN, CO2Me) with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is due to a mechanism that involves consecutive methoxycarbonylation, methylation, and demethoxycarbonylation steps. Important aspects of this mechanism are clarified herein by a kinetic investigation. In the case of arylacetonitriles, at 140 degrees C, the co...