Disclosed are a diaryl carbonate containing a compound of the following formula (I) in an amount of less than 1,000 ppm by mass, and a method for producing the same: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.l represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, or an aryloxy group. Disclosed methods include reacting urea with an alkyl alcohol to provide a dialkyl carbonate; reacting the dialkyl carbonate with an aryl alcohol to provide an alkylaryl carbonate; subjecting the alkylaryl carbonate to disproportionation to yield a mixture comprising a diaryl carbonate; and purifying the mixture.

The present invention discloses a process for recovery and regeneration of rare earth metals or salts thereof used as catalyst and which is conveniently integrated within the overall flow sheets of manufacturing dialkyl carbonates. Alkyl carbamate, alcohol and a rare earth metal salt as catalyst selected from the lanthanide series are added in a reactor to afford dialkyl carbonate. The rare earth metal catalyst is selected from samarium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, ytterbium, europium and gadolinium. Ammonia is added to a portion of the reaction mixture to precipitate the catalyst and the separated deactivated catalyst is dissolved in acid to afford regenerated catalyst, e.g., in triflic acid in the case of samarium triflate catalyst.

The present invention discloses a process for recovery and regeneration of rare earth metals or salts thereof used as catalyst and which is conveniently integrated within the overall flow sheets of manufacturing dialkyl carbonates. Alkyl carbamate, alcohol and a rare earth metal salt as catalyst selected from the lanthanide series are added in a reactor to afford dialkyl carbonate. The rare earth metal catalyst is selected from samarium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, ytterbium, europium and gadolinium. Ammonia is added to a portion of the reaction mixture to precipitate the catalyst and the separated deactivated catalyst is dissolved in acid to afford regenerated catalyst, e.g., in triflic acid in the case of samarium triflate catalyst.

The present invention discloses a process for recovery and regeneration of rare earth metals or salts thereof used as catalyst and which is conveniently integrated within the overall flow sheets of manufacturing dialkyl carbonates. Alkyl carbamate, alcohol and a rare earth metal salt as catalyst selected from the lanthanide series are added in a reactor to afford dialkyl carbonate. The rare earth metal catalyst is selected from samarium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, ytterbium, europium and gadolinium. Ammonia is added to a portion of the reaction mixture to precipitate the catalyst and the separated deactivated catalyst is dissolved in acid to afford regenerated catalyst, e.g., in triflic acid in the case of samarium triflate catalyst.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a carbonate derivative in a safe and efficient manner. The method for producing a carbonate derivative according to the present invention is characterized in comprising irradiating light on a composition containing a C.sub.1-4 halogenated hydrocarbon having one or more kinds of halogen atoms selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom, a nucleophilic functional group-containing compound and the specific base in the presence of oxygen.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a carbonate derivative in a safe and efficient manner. The method for producing a carbonate derivative according to the present invention is characterized in comprising irradiating light on a composition containing a C.sub.1-4 halogenated hydrocarbon having one or more kinds of halogen atoms selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom, a nucleophilic functional group-containing compound and the specific base in the presence of oxygen.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a carbonate derivative in a safe and efficient manner. The method for producing a carbonate derivative according to the present invention is characterized in comprising irradiating light on a composition containing a C.sub.1-4 halogenated hydrocarbon having one or more kinds of halogen atoms selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom, a nucleophilic functional group-containing compound and the specific base in the presence of oxygen.

The disclosure relates to the field of specialty chemicals and methods for their synthesis. In embodiments, the disclosure provides novel multifunctional fatty acid derivative molecules such as e.g., fatty triols, fatty tetrols, dihydroxy fatty acids, etc. The disclosure further provides derivatives of the disclosed multifunctional molecules which are useful e.g., in the production of personal care products, surfactants, detergents, polymers, paints, coatings, and as emulsifiers, emollients, and thickeners in cosmetics and foods, as industrial solvents and plasticizers, etc. The disclosure further provides biochemical pathways, recombinant microorganisms and methods for the biological production of various multifunctional fatty acid derivatives.

In one embodiment, a continuous process for preparing organic carbonate solvent of Formula (I) as described herein comprises contacting a first reactant (an alcohol) with a reactive carbonyl source (carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) or an alkylchloroformate) in the presence of a catalyst in reaction stream flowing through a continuous flow reactor at temperature 20° C. to about 160° C. and at a flow rate providing a residence time in the range of about 0.1 minute to about 24 hours; collecting a reactor effluent exiting from the continuous flow reactor; recovering a crude product from the reactor effluent; and distilling the crude product to obtain the organic carbonate compound of Formula (I). In another embodiment, the first reactant is an epoxide and the carbonyl source is carbon dioxide.

In one embodiment, a continuous process for preparing organic carbonate solvent of Formula (I) as described herein comprises contacting a first reactant (an alcohol) with a reactive carbonyl source (carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) or an alkylchloroformate) in the presence of a catalyst in reaction stream flowing through a continuous flow reactor at temperature 20° C. to about 160° C. and at a flow rate providing a residence time in the range of about 0.1 minute to about 24 hours; collecting a reactor effluent exiting from the continuous flow reactor; recovering a crude product from the reactor effluent; and distilling the crude product to obtain the organic carbonate compound of Formula (I). In another embodiment, the first reactant is an epoxide and the carbonyl source is carbon dioxide.