Room temperature synthesis of glycerol carbonate catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes were used as efficient organocatalysts for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and dimethyl carbonate. The reaction takes place in a liquid mixture of reactants without solvent at room temperature. It provides glycerol carbonate in high yield using 2.6–4 mol % of catalyst in a reaction period of 20–30 min.