The present invention relates to a process for preparing bisphenol A in the presence of cumene without poisoning the catalyst system comprising an ion exchange resin catalyst and a sulfur containing cocatalyst. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for preparing polycarbonate.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing bisphenol A in the presence of cumene without poisoning the catalyst system comprising an ion exchange resin catalyst and a sulfur containing cocatalyst. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for preparing polycarbonate.

A polymer including a first structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1: ##STR00001## wherein L.sup.1, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 and n1 in Chemical Formula 1 are the same as described in the detailed description.

A polymer including a first structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1: ##STR00001## wherein L.sup.1, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 and n1 in Chemical Formula 1 are the same as described in the detailed description.

In some embodiments, a method of making a polycarbonate composition comprises: polymerizing by an interfacial polymerization, reactants comprising a starting material comprising a bisphenol-A to form a bisphenol-A polycarbonate, wherein the bisphenol-A has a purity of greater than or equal to 99.65 wt % and a sulfur content of less than or equal to 2 ppm. The polycarbonate composition has a free hydroxyl content of less than or equal to 150 ppm, and wherein a molded article of the polycarbonate composition has transmission level greater than or equal to 90.0% at 2.5 mm thickness as measured by ASTM D1003-00 and a yellow index (YI) less than or equal to 1.5 as measured by ASTM D1925.

In some embodiments, a method of making a polycarbonate composition comprises: polymerizing by an interfacial polymerization, reactants comprising a starting material comprising a bisphenol-A to form a bisphenol-A polycarbonate, wherein the bisphenol-A has a purity of greater than or equal to 99.65 wt % and a sulfur content of less than or equal to 2 ppm. The polycarbonate composition has a free hydroxyl content of less than or equal to 150 ppm, and wherein a molded article of the polycarbonate composition has transmission level greater than or equal to 90.0% at 2.5 mm thickness as measured by ASTM D1003-00 and a yellow index (YI) less than or equal to 1.5 as measured by ASTM D1925.

Provided is an ultraviolet-absorbing polycarbonate which exhibits excellent heat resistance as well as excellent weather resistance without showing a reduction in its performance or contaminating a processing facility during processing. The ultraviolet-absorbing polycarbonate is represented by the following Formula (1): ##STR00001## [wherein, n represents an integer of 2 to 300; B.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkylidene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like; and A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each independently represent a group represented by the following Formula (2), (3) or the like: ##STR00002## (wherein, G.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.5 to R.sup.8 each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or the like; and R.sup.11 represents a hydrogen atom or the like) ##STR00003## (wherein, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each represent a hydrogen atom or the like)].

Provided is an ultraviolet-absorbing polycarbonate which exhibits excellent heat resistance as well as excellent weather resistance without showing a reduction in its performance or contaminating a processing facility during processing. The ultraviolet-absorbing polycarbonate is represented by the following Formula (1): ##STR00001## [wherein, n represents an integer of 2 to 300; B.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkylidene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like; and A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each independently represent a group represented by the following Formula (2), (3) or the like: ##STR00002## (wherein, G.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.5 to R.sup.8 each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or the like; R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or the like; and R.sup.11 represents a hydrogen atom or the like) ##STR00003## (wherein, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 each represent a hydrogen atom or the like)].

A compound is provided according to structure 4, (4) wherein n has a value from 0 to 48 and Z is hydroxyl or a benzene ring bearing substituents R.sub.11-R.sub.15, wherein R.sub.1-R.sub.15 are each individually selected from the group consisting of H, allyl, alkyl, alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy, halide, hydroxyl, glycidyl, (meth)acryloyl, 3-(meth)acryloyl-2-hydroxy-1-propoxy, 2,3-epoxypropyl, maleate, and structure (a) wherein at least one of R.sub.1-R.sub.5, at least one of R.sub.6-R.sub.10, and at least one of R.sub.11-R.sub.15 is hydroxyl or an ether or ester derived from it.

##STR00001##

A polymer including a first structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1:

##STR00001## wherein L.sup.1, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 and n1 in Chemical Formula 1 are the same as described in the detailed description.