Chemical structure of the carbonate ester group.

A carbonate ester is a functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a carbonyl group flanked by two alkoxy groups. In Organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of Atoms within Molecules that are responsible for the characteristic Chemical reactions Organic chemistry is a discipline within Chemistry which involves the scientific study of the structure properties composition reactions, and preparation In Organic chemistry, a carbonyl group is a Functional group composed of a Carbon Atom double-bonded to an Oxygen In Chemistry, the alkoxyl group is an Alkyl (carbon and hydrogen chain group linked to Oxygen thus R-O The general structure of these carbonates is R₁O(C=O)OR₂ and they are related to esters R₁O(C=O)R and ethers R₁OR₂ and also to the inorganic carbonates. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least Ether is a class of Organic compounds which contain an ether group — an Oxygen Atom connected to two (substituted Alkyl Inorganic chemistry is the branch of Chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of Inorganic compounds This field covers all Chemical compounds In Chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or Ester of Carbonic acid.

Carbonate esters are used as protecting group for diols. A protecting group or protective group is introduced into a molecule by chemical modification of a Functional group in order to obtain Chemoselectivity A diol or glycol is a Chemical compound containing two Hydroxyl groups (-OH groups Vicinal diols have hydroxyl groups attached to adjacent atoms A classic reagent is phosgene but more user friendly reagents exist such as carbonyl diimidazole. Phosgene is the Chemical compound with the formula COCl2 This colorless gas gained infamy as a Chemical weapon during World War I 11'-Carbonyldiimidazole, or CDI, (formula (C3H3N22CO an Organic compound, is a white crystalline Solid Ethylene carbonate and Propylene carbonate are used as a solvent. Ethylene carbonate, is an Ester of Ethylene glycol and Carbonic acid. Propylene carbonate ( PC) also known as cyclic propylene carbonate, carbonic acid propylene ester, cyclic 12-propylene carbonate, A solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid liquid or gaseous Solute, resulting in a Solution. Dimethyl carbonate is used as a methylating reagent. Dimethyl carbonate, often abbreviated DMC, is a flammable clear liquid boiling at 90 °C insoluble in water Methylation is a term used in the chemical sciences to denote the attachment or substitution of a methyl group on various substrates.

In many applications a carbonate group replaces an ester group for example in Cholesteryl oleyl carbonate. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least Cholesteryl oleyl carbonate is an Organic chemical, an Carbonate ester of Cholesterol and Oleyl alcohol with Carbonic acid. Polycarbonates are an important class of polymers.

Organic synthesis

Laboratory methods for the synthesis of carbonate ester in the laboratory are:

• from the corresponding diols.
• by double oxidation of ketones in a Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement
• by reaction of an epoxide with carbon dioxide catalysed by a zinc halide ^[1]

References