Abstract: The recent progress in the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from carbon dioxide and methanol is reviewed in terms of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and reaction conditions. The homogeneous catalysts include organometallic alkoxides，alkaline earth metal alkoxides，alkali catalysts and metal acetates. The heterogeneous catalysts include metal supported catalysts，solid base catalysts，and oxide catalysts. The emphasis of the authors’s study was transferred from homogeneous catalyst to heterogeneous catalyst in recent years. The design of catalyst and reaction system，photocatalyst，heteropolyacid catalyst，ion liquid system，promoter，absorbent agent，heteropolyacid catalyst，microwave heating，membrane reactor，and supercritical CO2 solvent system were studied. The study on catalyst development and reaction technology showed that the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from carbon dioxide and methanol has the prospect of commercialization.