Phase structure impact of ZrO2 on the synthesis of 1,2-butylene carbonate via transesterification of 1,2-butanediol and dimethyl carbonate

Cyclic carbonates are valuable green chemicals with wide-ranging applications, but their conventional synthesis often involves toxic reagents or inefficient catalytic systems. In this work, zirconia catalysts with different crystalline phases (tetragonal, monoclinic, and mixed-phase) were developed and evaluated for the transesterification of 1,2-butanediol with dimethyl carbonate. The tetragonal ZrO 2 ( t -ZrO 2 ) exhibited superior catalytic activity (space-time yield of 41.76 g 1,2-BC g cat. −1 h −1 ) due to favorable surface properties and exposed active (101) facet. This study establishes a green, efficient route for 1,2-butylene carbonate synthesis, providing key insights into catalyst structure-activity relationships.