Abstract: The advances in dimethyl carbonate synthesis by gas-phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol are summarized，the technical features of direct gas-phase process and methylnitrite process are introduced respectively，and the structure characteristics as well as the catalytic performances for different catalysts are presented in details. According to previous research results the key for methylnitrite process is to control the first step reaction and ensure the safety in the application of NO，and the NO-free direct gas-phase process simplifying the reaction mechanismis considered to be a potential commercialization route for DMC synthesis. Compared to CuCl2 loading catalysts and Wacker catalysts，solid state ion-exchange derived copper zeolites present higher stability and lower corrosivity to the reactor. However，limited by the acid sites on the surface of zeolites，only lower ion-exchange rate could be achieved，and it is difficult to remove the residual CuCl adsorbed in the micropores. whereas chloride-free Cu-impregnated zeolite catalysts gave lower DMC selectivity. Si-based mixed oxides are reported as one kind of solid acids，the amounts，intensity and distribution of Brønsted acid sites could be effectively controlled through choosing appropriate preparation conditions，which could be used as ideal support materials to prepare catalysts through solid ion-exchange reaction.