Continuous method for preparing carbonate esters

A continuous processes for preparing an organic carbonate solvent of Formula (I):

• comprising the steps of:
• (a) contacting a first reactant with a reactive carbonyl source in reaction stream containing a catalyst flowing through a continuous flow reactor at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 160° C., and at a flow rate providing a residence time in the range of about 0.1 minute to about 24 hours;
• (b) optionally quenching any remaining reactive carbonyl source;
• (c) collecting a reactor effluent exiting from the continuous flow reactor;
• (d) recovering a crude product from the reactor effluent;
• and
• (e) purifying the crude product to obtain the organic carbonate compound of Formula (I);
• wherein:
• Z is a covalent bond;
• x is 0;
• R1 is C1-C6 alkyl or C1-C6 fluoroalkyl bearing at least one fluoro substituent;
• R2 is H, C1-C6 alkyl or C1-C6 fluoroalkyl bearing at least one fluoro substituent;
• both R3 and R4 are CH2 and are not directly bonded together;
• R is C1-C6 alkyl or C1-C6 fluoroalkyl comprising at least one fluoro substituent;
• and wherein the first reactant is an alcohol of Formula (II):
• the carbonyl source is carbonyldiimidazole (CDI);
• the catalyst is selected from the group consisting tertiary amine, an aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocycle, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide;
• the catalyst is present in the reaction stream at a concentration of about 2 to 15 mol % relative to the alcohol;
• and the reaction stream comprises an aprotic organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a nitrile, an ester, an organic carbonate ester, an amide, a ketone, a sulfone, a sulfoxide, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a phosphoramide, and an ionic liquid, in which the alcohol, the CDI, and the catalyst are dissolved.