Abstract: Dimethyl carbonate is obtained with a high selectivity and great constancy over time by reacting carbon monoxide with methyl nitrite in a continuous gas phase reaction in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst prepared by the application to a suitable support of one or more palladium compounds of the formula[Pd(N(R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3)).sub.n ]X.sup.1.sub.2 (I) ,wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, X.sup.1 and n are as defined in the disclosure, optionally in combination with one or more promoters from the group consisting of the elements Fe, Co, Ni, V, Nb, Mo, Ta, Ti, Cu and Cr, the rare earths and/or compounds thereof, and/or with one or more promoters from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal halides.