ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis of methyl acetoacetate from acetone and dimethyl carbonate with alkali-promoted MgO catalysts

Dudu Wu and Zhi Chen

School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, 523808 China

E-mail: wududu@china.com.cn

Abstract: The synthesis of methyl acetoacetate (MAA) by methoxycarbonylation of acetone with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was carried out in the presence of MgO and alkali-promoted MgO catalysts. From among Li, Na, K, and Cs, potassium was found to be the most effective promoter to improve the activity of MgO. The effect of K/MgO with variable content of K was also investigated, and the individual catalysts were characterised by the XRD, BET, SEM, CO2-TPD, and in situ CO2 IR techniques. The results showed that the addition of a small amount of K (1.97 mass %) could promote MAA formation, but a higher K loading caused a decrease in the yield of MAA, which might result from particle agglomeration and the presence of stable potassium carbonates. In situ FTIR experiments of co-adsorbed reactants indicated that the reaction probably proceeded via abstraction of Hα from acetone by base sites.

Keywords: methyl acetoacetate - acetone - dimethyl carbonate - MgO - alkali metals

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-010-0068-9

Chemical Papers 64 (6) 758–766 (2010)