Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polycarbonate diol and a polyurethane using the polycarbonate diol as raw materials. The novel polycarbonate diol produces polycarbonate diol-based polyurethane which has a high degree of hardness, superior abrasion resistance, and superior hydrophilicity, and is usable for an application such as a paint, a coating agent, a synthetic leather, an artificial leather, and a highly-functional elastomers, or the like. The present invention also provides an active-energy radiation curable polymer composition giving a cured film having a superior contamination resistance and high degree of hardness. The present invention is obtained, for example, by reacting specific two types of diols with diester carbonate in the presence of a transesterification catalyst being a compound using a metal of Group 1 or 2 on the periodic table.

Abstract: A novel polycarbonate diol is useful as a raw material for producing a polycarbonate diol-based polyurethane with a high degree of hardness, superior abrasion resistance, and superior hydrophilicity. The polyurethane is useful in paints, coating agents, synthetic leathers, artificial leathers, and highly-functional elastomers, or the like. The polycarbonate diol is also useful for producing an active-energy radiation curable polymer composition giving a cured film having superior contamination resistance and high degree of hardness. The curable polymer composition contains a urethane(meth)acrylate oligomer obtained from the polycarbonate diol. The polycarbonate diol is obtained, for example, by reacting two specific types of diols with diester carbonate in the presence of a transesterification catalyst. The catalyst has a metal of Group 1 or 2 on the periodic table. A metal content of the transesterification catalyst is 100 weight ppm or less.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic carboxylic acid, which comprises oxidizing an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a liquid phase in an acetic acid solvent in the presence of catalyst components comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine, wherein(1) the reaction temperature is from 140.degree. to 180.degree. C.,(2) the cobalt component is in an amount of from 400 to 3,000 ppm by weight to the acetic acid solvent, as calculated as cobalt metal,(3) the manganese component is in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.4 time in the atomic ratio to cobalt,(4) the bromine component is in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.

Abstract: A process for producing an orthoalkylphenol which comprises reacting phenol with an olefin in a liquid phase in the presence of an alumina catalyst, characterized in that the water content in the liquid phase of the reaction system is maintained at a level of not higher than 250 ppm.