The present invention relates to the preparation of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene bisphenol (BP-TMC). Especially, the present invention relates to the preparation of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene bisphenol (BP-TMC) from 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone (TMC-one) and phenol in the presence of a gaseous acidic catalyst. The preparation is preferably conducted continuously. It is an object of the present invention to prevent that solids, especially crystallized BP-TMC, more especially crystallized BP-TMC-phenol-adduct, block the outlet of the dosing valve for the gaseous acidic acid when the gaseous acidic acid is dosed into the reaction mixture comprising TMC-one and phenol in a reaction vessel.

Provided is a compound, a polymer, a composition, a composition for film formation, a pattern formation method, an insulating film formation method, and a method for producing a compound, by which a resist having excellent exposure sensitivity can be obtained.

A compound represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.A is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group; R.sup.X is OR.sup.B or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.B is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and P is a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an ester group, an acetal group, a carboxyalkoxy group, a carbonate ester group, a nitro group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a thiol group, an ether group, a thioether group, a phosphine group, a phosphone group, a urethane group, a urea group, an amide group, an imide group, or a phosphate group.

Provided is a compound, a polymer, a composition, a composition for film formation, a pattern formation method, an insulating film formation method, and a method for producing a compound, by which a resist having excellent exposure sensitivity can be obtained.

A compound represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.A is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group; R.sup.X is OR.sup.B or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.B is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and P is a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an ester group, an acetal group, a carboxyalkoxy group, a carbonate ester group, a nitro group, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a thiol group, an ether group, a thioether group, a phosphine group, a phosphone group, a urethane group, a urea group, an amide group, an imide group, or a phosphate group.

A method for producing bisphenol A (BPA) is provided. The method includes step A of degrading a polycarbonate resin in a solvent and distilling off the solvent to obtain a crude solution A; step B of subjecting acetone and phenol to dehydration condensation; step C of distilling off unreacted acetone and water to obtain a concentrated liquid C; step D of crystallizing the concentrated liquid C to obtain a slurry liquid, from which a mother liquor D is obtained; step H of obtaining a solution H1 or a solution H2 from the crude solution A and part of the mother liquor D; and step I of supplying the solution H1 or H2 to the step B or C. The solution H1 contains BPA obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and isopropenylphenol and then rebonding phenol and isopropenylphenol, and the solution H2 contains phenol obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and acetone.

A method for producing bisphenol A (BPA) is provided. The method includes step A of degrading a polycarbonate resin in a solvent and distilling off the solvent to obtain a crude solution A; step B of subjecting acetone and phenol to dehydration condensation; step C of distilling off unreacted acetone and water to obtain a concentrated liquid C; step D of crystallizing the concentrated liquid C to obtain a slurry liquid, from which a mother liquor D is obtained; step H of obtaining a solution H1 or a solution H2 from the crude solution A and part of the mother liquor D; and step I of supplying the solution H1 or H2 to the step B or C. The solution H1 contains BPA obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and isopropenylphenol and then rebonding phenol and isopropenylphenol, and the solution H2 contains phenol obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and acetone.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing bisphenol A in the presence of hydroxyacetone without poisoning the catalyst system comprising an ion exchange resin catalyst and a sulfur containing cocatalyst, wherein at least part of the sulfur containing cocatalyst is not chemically bound to the ion exchange resin catalyst. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for preparing polycarbonate and a composition comprising bisphenol A and at least one specific impurity which is formed in the production of bisphenol A.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing bisphenol A in the presence of hydroxyacetone without poisoning the catalyst system comprising an ion exchange resin catalyst and a sulfur containing cocatalyst, wherein at least part of the sulfur containing cocatalyst is not chemically bound to the ion exchange resin catalyst. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for preparing polycarbonate and a composition comprising bisphenol A and at least one specific impurity which is formed in the production of bisphenol A.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing bisphenol A in the presence of hydroxyacetone without poisoning the catalyst system comprising an ion exchange resin catalyst and a sulfur containing cocatalyst, wherein at least part of the sulfur containing cocatalyst is not chemically bound to the ion exchange resin catalyst. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for preparing polycarbonate and a composition comprising bisphenol A and at least one specific impurity which is formed in the production of bisphenol A.

The invention relates to a method for producing a specific hydroxyl compound by decarboxylating a specific carboxylic acid compound or a salt of said carboxylic acid compound in the absence of a catalyst and to a method for producing a bisphenol.

The invention relates to a method for producing a specific hydroxyl compound by decarboxylating a specific carboxylic acid compound or a salt of said carboxylic acid compound in the absence of a catalyst and to a method for producing a bisphenol.