Highly efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical organic carbonates from alcohols and diethyl carbonate over mesoporous carbon-supported MgO catalysts

•Mesoporous carbon (MC) supported MgO catalysts were prepared by impregnation method.•MgO are highly dispersed on the surface of MC through metal-support interaction.•MgO/MC can efficiently catalyze transesterification of diethyl carbonates with alcohols.•Various unsymmetrical organic carbonates can be obtained at ambient temperature.•MgO/MC exhibit high stability and recyclability for transesterification reaction.