Method of synthesizing unsymmetric organic carbonates and preparing nonaqueous electrolytes for alkali ion electrochemical cells

A method for synthesizing an unsymmetric organic carbonate, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a first symmetric carbonate;
• b) providing a second symmetric carbonate different than the first symmetric carbonate;
• and
• c) reacting the first and second symmetric carbonates in the presence of either a nucleophilic reagent selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, an alkyl alkali metal, an aryl alkali metal, an alkali metal dialkylamide and an alkali metal alkoxide, and mixtures thereof, or an electron donating reductant selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, an alkyl alkali metal, an aryl alkali metal, an alkali metal, an alkalted carbon and samarlaum(II) salt, and mixtures thereof, or a mixture of the nucleophilic reagent and the electron donating reductant, and wherein the mixture of the first and second symmetric carbonates and the catalyst is devoid of an alcohol.

A method for synthesizing a nonaqueous organic solvent mixture, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a first symmetric carbonate having the general formula R.sup.1 OCOOR.sup.1 ;
• b) providing a second symmetric carbonate having the general formula R.sup.2 OCOOR.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of saturated alkyl groups, unsaturated alkyl groups and aryl groups;
• and
• c) mixing the first and second symmetric carbonates together in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a nucleophilic reagent and an electron donating reductant, and mixtures thereof, wherein the electron donating reductant is selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, an alkyl alkali metal, an aryl alkali motal, an alkali metal, an alkalated carbon and samariumr(II) salt, and mixtures thereof to thereby provide the solvent mixture consisting of the first symmetric carbonate, the second symmetric carbonate and a product unsymmtetric carbonate, and wherein the mixture of the first and second symmetric carbonates and the catalyst is devoid of an alcohol.

A method for synthesizing an organic solvent mixture, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a first symmetric carbonate consisting of dimethyl carbonate or dipropyl carbonate;
• b) selecting a second symmetric carbonate from diethyl carbonate and dipropyl carbonate;
• and
• c) reacting the first and second symmetric carbonates in the presence of either a nucleophilic reagent selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, an alkyl alkali metal, an aryl alkali metal, an alkali metal dialkylamide and an alkali metal alkoxide, and mixtures thereof, or an electron donating reductant selected from the group consisting of a metal hydride, an alkyl alkali metal, an aryl alkali metal, an alkali metal, an alkalated carbon and a samarium(II) salt, and mixtures thereof or a mixture of the nucleophilic reagent and the election donating reductant to thereby provide the solvent mixture consisting of the first symmetric carbonate, the second symmetric carbonate and a product unsymmetric carbonate selected from the group consisting of ethyl methyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate and ethyl propyl carbonate, and wherein the mixture of the first ad second symmetric, carbonates and the catalyst is devoid of an alcohol.

A method for synthesizing an unsymmetric organic carbonate, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a first symmetric carbonate having the general formula R.sup.1 OCOOR.sup.1 ;
• b) providing a second symmetric carbonate having the general formula R.sup.2 OCOOR.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the aroup consisting of saturated alkyl groups, unsaturated alkly groups and aryl groups;
• and
• c) mixing the first and second symmetric carbonates together in the presence of on electron donating reductant catalyst, wherein the electron donating catalyst has an oxidation potential less than a reduction potential of at least one of the first and second synnmetric carbonates, and wherein the mixture of the first and second symmetric carbonates and the catalyst is devoid of an alcohol.