Anatase-Layered TiO2 for Selective Transesterification for Diphenyl Carbonate: A Study of the Active Site and Deactivation Mechanism

Diphenyl carbonate (DPC) is a crucial organic chemical intermediate that is widely applied for the synthesis of polycarbonate. The process of transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and phenol to produce DPC is promising and is in line with the requirements of green transitions and raw material sustainability. In this work, anatase-layered titanium dioxide (A-TiO2) was prepared and applied for the efficient transesterification of DMC and phenol to synthesize DPC with 10.5% phenol conversion and 87.9% DPC selectivity. The high activity and selectivity of transesterification over A-TiO2 were ascribed via characterizations to the tetracoordinate Ti species and Lewis acid–base sites on the catalyst surface. We further studied the deactivation mechanism of this kind of A-TiO2, and it was found that Ti leaching and the deposition of organic compounds onto the catalyst surface were the major reasons for deactivation during transesterification. This study provides some insights into the design of highly active and selective catalysts for transesterification reactions.