Studies on the carboxymethylation and methylation of bisphenol A with dimethyl carbonate over TiO2/SBA-15

Carboxymethylated species were selectively synthesized from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and bisphenol A (BPA) over TiO₂/SBA-15. On the basis of catalyst characterization by means of XRD, FT-IR, HPLC and GC–MS, the relations between catalytic performance and catalyst properties were discussed. Si–O–Ti was active sites for reaction, and the interaction mode between Ti–O–Si and DMC was main factor to determine carboxymethylation and methylation. When DMC was attacked by Ti–O–Si on two oxygen atoms of CH₃–O moiety, BPA attacked carbonyl carbon to form carboxymethylated products. If the interaction occurs through the oxygen of CO moiety, BPA attacked methyl carbon to form methylated products. Chemisorbed H₂O over TiO₂/SBA-15 made DMC to act as methylating agent. After chemisorbed H₂O was removed, carboxymethylated species of two-methylcarbonate-ended-BPA (DmC(1)) and one-methylcarbonate-ended-BPA (MmC(1)) were selectively synthesized.