The current invention relates to long α-ω di-functional linear molecules as building blocks closing the gap between small molecules and polymers, or in a polycondensated form, in the production of oligomers and/or polymers, surfactants, lubricants, coatings, colloidal stabilizing surface chains/molecules.

Realized is a method for restoring the activity of a catalyst for producing a carbonate ester by a simple technique with no use of a complicated step such as calcining or the like to allow the catalyst to be reusable, and a method for producing a carbonate ester at a high yield by use of the catalyst thus regenerated. The above-described problem has been solved by a method for regenerating a catalyst containing CeO.sub.2, the catalyst being usable for a carbonate ester generation reaction of generating a carbonate ester from carbon dioxide and an alcohol, the method comprising (a) a separation step of separating the catalyst as a crude catalyst from a reaction solution of carbon dioxide and the alcohol; and (b) a catalyst processing step of washing the crude catalyst with a washing alcohol to provide a purified catalyst.

Realized is a method for restoring the activity of a catalyst for producing a carbonate ester by a simple technique with no use of a complicated step such as calcining or the like to allow the catalyst to be reusable, and a method for producing a carbonate ester at a high yield by use of the catalyst thus regenerated. The above-described problem has been solved by a method for regenerating a catalyst containing CeO.sub.2, the catalyst being usable for a carbonate ester generation reaction of generating a carbonate ester from carbon dioxide and an alcohol, the method comprising (a) a separation step of separating the catalyst as a crude catalyst from a reaction solution of carbon dioxide and the alcohol; and (b) a catalyst processing step of washing the crude catalyst with a washing alcohol to provide a purified catalyst.

The present invention provides new classes of phenol compounds, including those derived from tyrosol and analogues, useful as monomers for preparation of biocompatible polymers, and biocompatible polymers prepared from these monomeric phenol compounds, including novel biodegradable and/or bioresorbable polymers. These biocompatible polymers or polymer compositions with enhanced bioresorbabilty and processibility are useful in a variety of medical applications, such as in medical devices and controlled-release therapeutic formulations. The invention also provides methods for preparing these monomeric phenol compounds and biocompatible polymers.

The present invention provides new classes of phenol compounds, including those derived from tyrosol and analogues, useful as monomers for preparation of biocompatible polymers, and biocompatible polymers prepared from these monomeric phenol compounds, including novel biodegradable and/or bioresorbable polymers. These biocompatible polymers or polymer compositions with enhanced bioresorbabilty and processibility are useful in a variety of medical applications, such as in medical devices and controlled-release therapeutic formulations. The invention also provides methods for preparing these monomeric phenol compounds and biocompatible polymers.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, comprising reacting a dialkyl carbonate or an alkyl aryl carbonate with an aryl alcohol or an alkyl aryl carbonate, resulting in an aromatic carbonate which is an alkyl aryl carbonate or a diaryl carbonate, wherein a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of formula R-0˜ wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryloxy group in the titanium or zirconium aryloxide is a group of formula Ar-0˜ wherein Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein the composition additionally comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of an alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition, is mixed with an alcohol or an organic carbonate, and the mixture thus obtained is contacted with said dialkyl carbonate or alkyl aryl carbonate and aryl alcohol or alkyl aryl carbonate to catalyze the preparation of the aromatic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, comprising reacting a dialkyl carbonate or an alkyl aryl carbonate with an aryl alcohol or an alkyl aryl carbonate, resulting in an aromatic carbonate which is an alkyl aryl carbonate or a diaryl carbonate, wherein a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of formula R-0˜ wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryloxy group in the titanium or zirconium aryloxide is a group of formula Ar-0˜ wherein Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein the composition additionally comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of an alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition, is mixed with an alcohol or an organic carbonate, and the mixture thus obtained is contacted with said dialkyl carbonate or alkyl aryl carbonate and aryl alcohol or alkyl aryl carbonate to catalyze the preparation of the aromatic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

An alkyl tin compound having an alkyl group bonded to a tin atom, wherein the alkyl group is a branched alkyl or cyclic group-substituted alkyl group, the branched alkyl group being an alkyl group branched at at least one carbon atom of the first to third carbon atoms counting from the tin atom, and the cyclic group-substituted alkyl group being an alkyl group having a cyclic group bonded at at least one carbon atom of the first to third carbon atoms counting from the tin atom.

An alkyl tin compound having an alkyl group bonded to a tin atom, wherein the alkyl group is a branched alkyl or cyclic group-substituted alkyl group, the branched alkyl group being an alkyl group branched at at least one carbon atom of the first to third carbon atoms counting from the tin atom, and the cyclic group-substituted alkyl group being an alkyl group having a cyclic group bonded at at least one carbon atom of the first to third carbon atoms counting from the tin atom.

Provided is a carbonate ester purification apparatus including a treatment part for mixing a first solution containing a carbonate ester and an acidic substance with an alcohol solution of a metal alcoholate to obtain a mixed solution containing a reaction product of the acidic substance and the metal alcoholate, a separation part for removing a metal salt contained in the reaction product from the mixed solution to obtain a second solution, and a distillation part for removing a component from the second solution, the component different in boiling point from the carbonate ester to obtain a carbonate ester solution, wherein a content of the metal alcoholate in the alcohol solution is 5 to 18 mass %.