Catalysts for producing organic carbonates

Abstract

A process for producing various organic carbonates by performing transesterification and disproportionation reactions in dual vapor/liquid phase mode preferably in the presence of solid catalyst composition selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides or alkoxides of two to four elements from Group IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table supported on porous material which has surface hydroxyl groups and the method of reactivating catalyst deactivated by polymer deposition by contacting the deactivated catalyst with a solution of hydroxy containing compound in a solvent such as benzene or THF.

1 . A solid disproportionation or transesterification catalyst composition selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides and alkoxides of two to four elements from Group IV, V, and VI of the Periodic Table supported on a porous material which has surface hydroxyl groups. 
   
   
       2 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1  wherein said porous material has been subjected to a treatment to increase the number of hydroxyl groups thereon. 
   
   
       3 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 2  wherein said treatment comprises contacting said porous material with a basic solution. 
   
   
       4 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 3  wherein said porous material comprises silica. 
   
   
       5 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said alkoxide comprises a metal alkoxide. 
   
   
       6 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said alkoxide comprises a mixed metal alkoxide. 
   
   
       7 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said alkoxide comprises an alkoxide or mixed metal alkoxide of Group IV and V metals. 
   
   
       8 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein in the solid catalyst is TiO 2 /Nb 2 O 5  supported on treated silica, said treated silica having less than 0.05 wt. % Na. 
   
   
       9 . The solid catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst composition comprises two different heterogeneous catalyst compositions selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides and alkoxides of two to four elements from Group IV, V, and VI of the Periodic Table supported on porous material which have surface hydroxyl groups.