Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is used as an alternative and eco-friendly solvent for selective cyclocarbonylation reactions of allyl phenol derivatives for the synthesis of lactones; in some cases, depending on the reaction condition, DMC behaves as a ring-opening reagent producing methoxycarbonyl compounds.

Palladium/activated carbon (Pd/C) in the presence of 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane is an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for cyclocarbonylation reactions of 2-allyl phenols affording five-, six-, and seven-membered ring lactones. Various examples of cyclocarbonylation are reported and the regioselectivity is compared with the homogeneous system. Both commercial Pd/C and Pd/C prepared from activated carbons obtained from vegetable and polymeric wastes are investigated.

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