Synthesis of dimethyl adipate from cyclopentanone and dimethyl carbonate over solid base catalysts

A facile route for the synthesis of dimethyl adipate (DAP) from cyclopentanone and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in the presence of solid base catalysts has been developed. It was found that the intermediate carbomethoxycyclopentanone (CMCP) was produced from cyclopentanone with DMC in the first step, and then CMCP was further converted to DAP by reacting with a methoxide group. The role of the basic catalysts can be mainly ascribed to the activation of cyclopentanone via the abstraction of a proton in the a-position by base sites, and solid bases with moderate strength, such as MgO, favor the formation of DAP.