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4285061 
Journal Article 
Green synthetic route for perfumery compound (2-methoxyethyl) benzene using Li/MgO catalyst 
Tambe, PR; Yadav, GD 
2017 
1 
Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences - Chemical sciences
ISSN: 0253-4134 
129 
11 
1771-1779 
English 
WOS:000417177800015 
Ethers are one of the most prominent compounds among perfumery chemicals. (2-Methoxyethyl) benzene commonly known as phenyl ethyl methyl ether (PEME) is widely used in flavour and fragrance industries. Conventionally, synthesis of PEME involves the use of hazardous and polluting chemicals, which in turn affects the purity of perfumery compound. Thus, developing a green route to synthesise PEME without any hazardous chemicals is desirable. In the current work, a new process is developed for the synthesis of PEME using solid base catalysts including MgO and Li/MgO (with different loadings of lithium) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a methylating agent as well as a solvent. Different kinetic parameters were studied to achieve the optimum yield of the desired product. At optimum reaction conditions i.e., 1000 rpm of speed, of catalyst loading, 1:10.5 mole ratio (2-Phenyl ethanol: DMC), , 95% conversion of 2-phenyl ethanol with 98% selectivity of PEME was achieved. A detailed kinetic model was also developed and apparent activation energy for the reaction was calculated as 11.93 kcal/mol.



SYNOPSIS:2-Methoxyethyl benzene commonly known as phenyl ethyl methyl ether (PEME) was selectively synthesised in high yields from 2-phenyl ethanol (2-PE) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a methylating agent with carbon dioxide and methanol as co-products. Li/ MgO with different loadings of Li was studied and 0.1% Li/MgO was found to be the best catalyst among the screened catalysts. PEME has wide applications as perfumery compound. 
2-Phenyl ethanol; (2-methoxyethyl)benzene; Li/MgO; perfumery compound; kinetics; solid base catalyst