Process for the preparation of dialkyl carbonates

A process for preparing a carbonate which comprises contacting an alkylene oxide having 2 to 8 carbon atoms with an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alcohol having 1 to 18 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, amyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, octanol, decanol, and cyclododecanol and excess carbon dioxide under a partial carbon dioxide pressure of 3 to 500 bars employing excess alcohol to alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst which is a thallium catalyst at a temperature of from 70.degree. to 300.degree. C.