Titanocene dichloride (Cp2TiCl2) was found to be a novel and efficient catalyst for the transesterification between dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and phenol to diphenyl carbonate (DPC). Compared with other titanium esters, Cp2TiCl2 is more stable in air and can reach maximum catalytic activity at low catalyst amount. When the reaction was carried out between 150 and 180 degrees C, with a molar ratio of phenol to DMC of 1:1, a reaction time 10 h, a catalyst amount 0.5% (molar ratio to phenol), the conversion of phenol was 46.8%, and the selectivity of DPC and MPC was 54.9 and 43.4%, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.