Abstract: A process for preparing a diaryl carbonate from a diaryl oxalate in a liquid phase by decarbonylation is conducted by the steps of:1) performing a decarbonylation reaction of a diaryl oxalate in the presence of an organic phosphorus compound catalyst to give a reaction mixture of a diaryl carbonate and the organic phosphorus compound catalyst;2) recovering the diaryl carbonate from the reaction mixture; and3) performing a decarbonylation reaction of a diaryl oxalate in the presence of the reaction mixture from which the diaryl carbonate has been recovered and to which a halogen atom-containing compound is added, to give a reaction mixture of a diaryl carbonate and the organic phosphorus compound catalyst.

Abstract: A diaryl carbonate with a high degree of purity is produced at a high yield by (A) subjecting (a) a diaryl oxalate and a phenol compound or (b) an alkylaryl oxalate to transesterification reaction in one or two stages in the presence of a catalyst to prepare a diaryl oxalate, while removing a by-product from the reaction system; (B) collecting the diaryl oxalate from the resultant reaction product mixture of the step (A); (C) subjecting the diaryl oxalate to a decarbonylation reaction, preferably in the presence of a phosphorous compound-containing catalyst, to convert the diaryl oxalate to a corresponding diaryl carbonate, while removing a reaction by-product comprising carbon monoxide from the reaction system; and (D) collecting the diaryl carbonate from the reaction product mixture of the step (C).

Abstract: A novel crystalline adduct of diphenyl oxalate and phenol in a molar ratio of 1:2 and having a high purity is produced by melting a mixture containing diphenyl oxalate and phenol at a temperature of 100.degree. C. or more; cooling the melt to a temperature of less than 100.degree. C. to allow a resultant adduct of diphenyl oxalate and phenol in a molar ratio of 1:2 to crystallize and deposit from the melt; and collecting the crystalline adduct. Diphenyl oxalate with a high purity is produced by melting the crystalline adduct to dissociate it into diphenyl oxalate and phenol, and evaporating away the dissociated phenol from the melt to collect the dissociated diphenyl oxalate.