Branched aromatic polycarbonate and its production method

1. A branched aromatic polycarbonate produced by transesterification and having a viscosity average molecular weight of at least 16,000, wherein the amount of structural units of the following formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 2,000 to 50,000 wtppm, and the amounts of structural units of the following formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 10,000 wtppm, respectively:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —,

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —;

wherein the total amount of structural units of the following formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 10,000 wtppm:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloatkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

2. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of the structural units of the formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 3,000 to 10,000 wtppm.

3. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 1 , wherein the amounts of the structural units of the formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 5,000 wtppm, respectively.

4. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 1 , wherein the total amount of the structural units of the formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 3,000 wtppm.

5. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 1 , wherein the viscosity average molecular weight is at least 18,000.

6. A method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate as defined in claim 1 , which comprises reacting a carbonic acid diester with an aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound containing a 2,4′-bisphenol compound of the following formula (6) in an amount of from 100 to 50,000 wtppm is used:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 ailcylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

7. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 6 , wherein the 2,4′-bisphenol compound is 2,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-2,2-propane.

8. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 6 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound containing the 2,4′-bisphenol compound in an amount of from 100 to 10,000 wtppm is used.

9. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 6 , wherein the carbonic acid diester is diphenyl carbonate.

10. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 6 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane.

11. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 6 , wherein when the carbonic acid diester is reacted with the aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, an alkali metal compound and/or an alkaline earth metal compound is used as a transesterification catalyst.

12. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 11 , wherein the amount of the alkali metal compound and/or the alkaline earth metal compound is from 1×10 −8 to 1×10 −5 per 1 mol of the aromatic dihydroxy compound.

13. A branched aromatic polycarbonate produced by transesterification and having a viscosity average molecular weight of at least 16,000, wherein the amount of structural units of the following formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 3,000 to 10,000 wtppm, and the amounts of structural units of the following formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 10,000 wtppm, respectively:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —,

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

14. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 13 , wherein the total amount of structural units of the following formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 10,000 wtppm:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

15. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 13 , wherein the amounts of the structural units of the formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 5,000 wtppm, respectively.

16. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 14 , wherein the total amount of the structural units of the formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 3,000 wtppm.

17. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 13 , wherein the viscosity average molecular weight is at least 18,000.

18. A method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate as defined in claim 13 , which comprises reacting a carbonic acid diester with an aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound containing a 2,4′-bisphenol compound of the following formula (6) in an amount of from 100 to 50,000 wtppm is used:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

19. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 18 , wherein the 2,4′-bisphenol compound is 2,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-2,2-propane.

20. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 18 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound containing the 2,4′-bisphenol compound in an amount of from 100 to 10,000 wtppm is used.

21. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 18 , wherein the carbonic acid diester is diphenyl carbonate.

22. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 18 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane.

23. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 18 , wherein when the carbonic acid diester is reacted with the aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, an alkali metal compound and/or an alkaline earth metal compound is used as a transesterification catalyst.

24. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 23 , wherein the amount of the alkali metal compound and/or the alkaline earth metal compound is from 1×10 −8 to 1×10 −5 per 1 mol of the aromatic dihydroxy compound.

25. A branched aromatic polycarbonate produced by transesterification and having a viscosity average molecular weight of at least 16,000, wherein the amount of structural units of the following formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 2,000 to 50,000 wtppm, and the amounts of structural units of the following formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 5,000 wtppm, respectively:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —,

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

26. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 25 , wherein the total amount of structural units of the following formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 10,000 wtppm:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

27. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 25 , wherein the amount of the structural units of the formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 3,000 to 10,000 wtppm.

28. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 26 , wherein the total amount of the structural units of the formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 3,000 wtppm.

29. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 25 , wherein the viscosity average molecular weight is at least 18,000.

30. A method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate as defined in claim 25 , which comprises reacting a carbonic acid diester with an aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound containing a 2,4′-bisphenol compound of the following formula (6) in an amount of from 100 to 50,000 wtppm is used:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

31. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 30 , wherein the 2,4′-bisphenol compound is 2,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-2,2-propane.

32. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 30 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound containing the 2,4′-bisphenol compound in an amount of from 100 to 10,000 wtppm is used.

33. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 30 , wherein the carbonic acid diester is diphenyl carbonate.

34. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 30 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane.

35. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 30 , wherein when the carbonic acid diester is reacted with the aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, an alkali metal compound and/or an alkaline earth metal compound is used as a transesterification catalyst.

36. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 35 , wherein the amount of the alkali metal compound and/or the alkaline earth metal compound is from 1×10 −8 to 1×10 −5 per 1 mol of the aromatic dihydroxy compound.

37. A branched aromatic polycarbonate produced by transesterification and having a viscosity average molecular weight of at least 18,000, wherein the amount of structural units of the following formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 2,000 to 50,000 wtppm, and the amounts of structural units of the following formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 10,000 wtppm, respectively:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —,

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

38. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein the total amount of structural units of the following formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 10,000 wtppm:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

39. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein the amount of the structural units of the formula (1) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 3,000 to 10,000 wtppm.

40. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein the amounts of the structural units of the formulae (2) and (3) contained in its main chain are within a range of from 30 to 5,000 wtppm, respectively.

41. The branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 38 , wherein the total amount of the structural units of the formulae (4) and (5) contained in its main chain is within a range of from 10 to 3,000 wtppm.

42. A method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate as defined in claim 37 , which comprises reacting a carbonic acid diester with an aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound containing a 2,4′-bisphenol compound of the following formula (6) in an amount of from 100 to 50,000 wtppm is used:

wherein X is a single bond, a C 1-8 alkylene group, a C 2-8 alkylidene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylene group, a C 5-15 cycloalkylidene group or a member selected from bivalent groups represented by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO— and —SO 2 —.

43. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 42 , wherein the 2,4′-bisphenol compound is 2,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-2,2-propane.

44. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 42 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound containing the 2,4′-bisphenol compound in an amount of from 100 to 10,000 wtppm is used.

45. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 42 , wherein the carbonic acid diester is diphenyl carbonate.

46. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein the aromatic dihydroxy compound is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane.

47. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein when the carbonic acid diester is reacted with the aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate, an alkali metal compound and/or an alkaline earth metal compound is used as a transesterification catalyst.

48. The method for producing the branched aromatic polycarbonate according to claim 37 , wherein the amount of the alkali metal compound and/or the alkaline earth metal compound is from 1×10 −8 to 1×10 −5 per 1 mol of the aromatic dihydroxy compound.