Transition metal-modified mesoporous Mg-Al mixed oxides: Stable base catalysts for the synthesis of diethyl carbonate from ethyl carbamate and ethanol

•Tunable basicity of calcined hydrotalcites with mesoporous structure obtained by modifying with transition metal cations.•Effective synthesis of diethyl carbonate achieved over Mn2+ modified calcined hydrotalcites.•Good correlation between catalytic activity and both moderate and strong basicity.•Mn2+ modified calcined hydrotalcites presented high catalytic stability.