Facile synthesis of 2PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂ microcrystals and its catalytic behavior for transesterification of dimethyl carbonate with phenol

Polyhedron lead hydroxide carbonate (2PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂) microcrystals have been prepared in solution phase via a facile method in the presence of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). All the samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The possible growth mechanism was discussed. 2PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂ microcrystals were found to be a novel and efficient catalyst for the synthesis of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) by transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with phenol. Compared with some other catalysts, such as AlCl₃, ZnCl₂, and Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂. 2PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂ microcrystals are stable and show relatively high activity at low catalyst amount. When the reaction was carried out at 180°C, with a molar ratio of phenol to DMC of 2:1, a re-action time 14 h, and a catalyst amount 0.2% (molar ratio to phenol), the selectivity of DPC and methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) was 14.7% and 78.8%, respectively.