A safe synthesis of symmetrical carbonates from alkyl halides and tetraethylammonium carbonate

A safe and mild procedure for the synthesis of org. carbonates from alkyl halides and Et4N+ carbonate (TEAC) is described. This method avoids the use of classical toxic and harmful chems. like phosgene and CO and works under very mild reaction conditions. An electrochem.-generated deriv. of CO2 (a cheap and abundant C source) was used as the main reagent (TEAC).