Samarium diiodide was found to be a novel and efficient catalyst for the transesterification of phenol and DMC. Compared with other catalysts, samarium diiodide can reach high activity with a very 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 0.2% (molar ratio to phenol), the conversion of phenol was 52.8%, the yield of MPC and DPC was 26.5% and 22.8%, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.