A highly
active and selective heterogeneous catalyst consisting
of Fe–Mn double metal cyanide is reported for the transesterification
of cyclic carbonates with methanol. Fe–Mn double metal cyanide
complex with a Fe/Mn metal ratio of 8 was found to provide significantly
higher TOF and stability for transesterification of propylene carbonate
with methanol to dimethyl carbonate. The experimental results showed
that Mn content has a significant influence on the catalytic activity.
TEM and XRD analyses suggested that Fe–Mn complex represents
a cubic crystalline structure. XPS analysis showed that all Fe exists
in Fe2+ state. However, for the Mn element, 86.8% of Mn
exists in Mn2+ state with only 13.2% in Mn4+ state. Furthermore, FTIR and DRIFT UV–vis results verified
the formation of a new mixed-metal complex of ferrocyanide moiety
and Mn ions via bridging cyanide ligands. NH3-TPD results
showed that Fe–Mn double metal cyanide has a strong acidity,
which correlates to the high activity of Fe–Mn double metal
cyanide complex. The effects of catalyst loading, methanol/PC ratio,
temperature, and different cyclic carbonate substrates (ethylene carbonate,
propylene carbonate, and 1,2-butylene carbonate) on the initial reaction
rate as well as concentration–time profiles are reported. Unique
feature of this catalyst is also nonleaching characteristics during
reaction and higher TOF unlike the conventional catalysts such as
CaO. Compared with the results from Fe and Mn alone as catalysts,
Mn in this complex was proposed to be acting as active species, while
Fe acting as a metal-dispersing agent and a stabilizer of the cyano-bridged
complex and ensures a truly heterogeneous catalyst. On the basis of
this, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. The results presented
in this work provide useful insights on the reaction mechanism of
transesterification using Fe–Mn double metal cyanide catalysts,
which may also be useful to guide rational design of improved catalysts
and process for transesterification of cyclic carbonates.