New synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol using sulfur‐assisted carbonylation with carbon monoxide

The glycerol carbonate synthesis from glycerol, which is an inevitable by‐product of biodiesel production, was established. By combined sulfur‐assisted carbonylation of glycerol under 1.0 MPa of carbon monoxide at 80°C in DMF with oxidation by copper bromide(II), a facile synthetic method for glycerol carbonate in good yield was developed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:99–102, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20583