| abstract |
A process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, comprising reacting a dialkyl carbonate or an alkyl aryl carbonate with an aryl alcohol or an alkyl aryl carbonate, resulting in an aromatic carbonate that is an alkyl aryl carbonate or a diaryl carbonate , wherein a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of the formula R-O where R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl, and wherein the composition further comprises 0.1 to 50% by weight of an alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition, is mixed with an alcohol or an organic carbonate, and the mixture thus obtained is put into contacting said dialkyl carbonate or alkyl aryl carbonate and aryl alcohol or alkyl aryl carbonate to catalyze the preparation of the aromatic carbonate. |