Methylation and carboxymethylation of oxyalkyl-1,3-dioxacycloalkanes with dimethyl carbonate catalyzed by W(CO)6 and Mn2(CO)10

W(CO) 6 -catalyzed condensation of 2,2-dimethyl-1,4-oxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane with dimethyl carbonate has resulted in selective formation of methyl ester of the starting heterocyclic alcohol. Mn 2 (CO) 10 has catalyzed oxymethyl-1,3-dioxacycloalkane transformation into the corresponding non-symmetrical and symmetrical carbonates; selectivity of the process is determined by the alcohol-to-dimethyl carbonate molar ratio. A mixture of 5- and 6-mer formals of glycerol and 1,2,4-butanetriol has selectively reacted with dimethyl carbonate in the presence of Mn 2 (CO) 10 to form a mixture of the corresponding non-symmetrical carbonates.