CuCl-PdCl2/C catalysts were prepared, characterized, and used for the synthesis of diethyl carbonate. Conventional impregnation was adopted for the preparation of the catalyst. Water-insoluble cuprous chloride, CuCl, was dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Catalytic properties were characterized by XRD, XPS and TPD. The activities of the catalysts in the oxidative carbonylation of ethanol were measured using a continuous flow micro-reactor. The results revealed that CuCl-PdCl2/C catalyst was not only active but also very selective for the production of diethyl carbonate. The selectivity was 100% at a reaction temperature below 120 degrees C. However, despite all its merits, the catalyst was easily deactivated in the reaction. The main causes of the deactivation were the sintering of the cuprous chloride and the decomposition of the palladium chloride. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.