| abstract |
A method for making a carbonic acid ester of the formula <IMAGE> wherein R is -CH3, -C2H5, or -C3H7, which comprises reacting the corresponding alcohol, ROH, with carbon monoxide and oxygen, under pressure and at elevated temperature, in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, said catalyst being a complex formed between copper-I-chloride and vanadium trichloride, chromium trichloride, iron trichloride, cobalt-II-chloride, aluminum trichloride, or silicon tetrachloride. |