Direct Synthesis of Polycarbonate from Carbon Monoxide and Bisphenol A Using Efficient Pd Complex Catalyst Systems

A direct oxidative carbonylation procedure of Bisphenol A to polycarbonate catalyzed with efficient Pd complex systems has been developed. Pd/2,2′-bipyridyl complexes possessing 6,6′-dimethyl substituents, Pd/2,2′-biquinoline complexes, and dinuclear Pd complexes bridged with a pyridylphosphine ligand were found to give higher molecular weights and yields than conventional Pd catalyst systems. Highest molecular weight (M̄n = 5 600, M̄w = 12 900) and yield (86%) were obtained using the Pd/6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl complex system.