Abstract: A process for producing an unsymmetrical chain carbonic acid ester is described, which comprises reacting a first symmetrical chain carbonic acid ester with a second symmetrical chain carbonic acid ester or a monohydric alcohol in the presence of a catalyst comprising as an active catalyst component an oxide of at least one element selected from the Group IIIB elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent cycle life characteristic, stability in storage at high temperatures and low-temperature characteristic, which is provided with an anode including a carbon material capable of doping and undoping lithium ion, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a cathode including a lithium-containing oxide, the solvent for the nonaqueous electrolyte being a mixed solvent including an aliphatic carboxylate, a cyclic carbonate and a non-cyclic carbonate, with the aliphatic carboxylate being represented by the formula RCOOR' where R represents an alkyl group of three or more carbon atoms and R' represents an alkyl group of one or two carbon atoms and the cyclic carbonate being one of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent cycle life characteristic, stability in storage at high temperatures and low-temperature characteristic, which is provided with an anode including a carbon material capable of doping and undoping lithium ion, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a cathode including a lithium-containing oxide, the solvent for the nonaqueous electrolyte being a mixed solvent including an aliphatic carboxylate, a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate, with the aliphatic carboxylate being represented by the formula RCOOR' where R represents an ethyl group and R' represents an alkyl group of 1-3 carbon atoms and the cyclic carbonate being one of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery excellent in cycle life characteristic, stability in storage at high temperatures and low-temperature characteristic which is provided with an anode comprising a carbon material capable of doping and undoping lithium ion, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a cathode comprising a lithium-containing oxide, the solvent for the nonaqueous electrolyte being composed of the three components of an aliphatic carboxylate, a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate, the proportion of the aliphatic carboxylate being 10-70% by volume, that of the cyclic carbonate being 20-50% by volume and that of the chain carbonate being 10-70% by volume based on the total solvent.