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.

A polycarbonate resin having a high refractive index, a low Abbe number and a high moisture and heat resistance is provided. In an embodiment, a polycarbonate resin including a structural unit represented by general formula (1) below is provided.

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A polycarbonate resin having a high refractive index, a low Abbe number and a high moisture and heat resistance is provided. In an embodiment, a polycarbonate resin including a structural unit represented by general formula (1) below is provided.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a polyester carbonate on the basis of diacids and at least one 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol and at least one additional cycloaliphatic dihydroxy compound, to a polyester carbonate and to a molding compound and a molding body containing the polyester carbonate. The polyester carbonates according to the invention are characterized by a high proportion of bio-based structural motifs and good mechanical properties and molecular weights.

The present invention relates to a flame-retardant polycarbonate composition comprising the following components, relative to the total weight of the composition: A) 40-60 wt. % of at least one aromatic polycarbonate, B) 30-50 wt. % of at least one polysiloxane-polycarbonate condensate, C) 0.5-5 wt. % of at least one cyclic phosphazene, D) 1-5 wt. % of at least one silicone-acrylate rubber based impact modifier, E) 0.3-3 wt % of aluminium hydroxide oxide, F) 0.1-1 wt. % of at least one anti-dripping agent, and G) 0.1-1 wt. % of at least one UV absorber.

The present invention also relates to a shaped article produced from the composition. The polycarbonate composition according to the present invention has a good combination of low-temperature impact performance, flame-retardancy, hydrolytic stability, anti-UV performance, and heat resistance.

The present invention relates to a flame-retardant polycarbonate composition comprising the following components, relative to the total weight of the composition: A) 40-60 wt. % of at least one aromatic polycarbonate, B) 30-50 wt. % of at least one polysiloxane-polycarbonate condensate, C) 0.5-5 wt. % of at least one cyclic phosphazene, D) 1-5 wt. % of at least one silicone-acrylate rubber based impact modifier, E) 0.3-3 wt % of aluminium hydroxide oxide, F) 0.1-1 wt. % of at least one anti-dripping agent, and G) 0.1-1 wt. % of at least one UV absorber.

The present invention also relates to a shaped article produced from the composition. The polycarbonate composition according to the present invention has a good combination of low-temperature impact performance, flame-retardancy, hydrolytic stability, anti-UV performance, and heat resistance.

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 bioresorbability and processibility are useful in a variety of medical applications, such as in medical devices and con-trolled-release therapeutic formulations. The invention also provides methods for preparing these monomeric phenol compounds and biocompatible polymers.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic resin that has a high refractive index and enables low birefringence and balanced heat resistance and moldability. This thermosetting resin includes repeating units represented by formula (1). (In the formula, the rings Z are the same or different and represent an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group optionally including a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and an aromatic group, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 represent a C6-C10 aromatic group optionally having a substituent, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 independently represent a divalent linking group, j and k independently represent an integer of 0 or more, m and n independently represent 0 or 1, and W is at least one selected from the groups represented by formulae (2) and (3).) (In the formula, X represents a divalent linking group.)

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic resin that has a high refractive index and enables low birefringence and balanced heat resistance and moldability. This thermosetting resin includes repeating units represented by formula (1). (In the formula, the rings Z are the same or different and represent an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group optionally including a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and an aromatic group, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 represent a C6-C10 aromatic group optionally having a substituent, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 independently represent a divalent linking group, j and k independently represent an integer of 0 or more, m and n independently represent 0 or 1, and W is at least one selected from the groups represented by formulae (2) and (3).) (In the formula, X represents a divalent linking group.)