Abstract: Advances in the carbonylation synthesis of dimethyl carbonate（DMC）from methanol or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide were summarized. Merits and drawbacks of each technological route were analyzed. The oxidative carbonylation of methanol has drawbacks of low activity，easier deactivation and difficult regeneration of catalysts；low conversion of reactant；complicated technology for catalyst preparation；rigor reaction conditions；difficulty in the activation of CO2. Finally，emphasis for research and development in the synthesis technology of DMC was proposed.