Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of carbonic acid esters of polyester-polyols by transesterifying the polyols with carbonic acid aryl esters at elevated temperatures under vacuum in the presence of a catalyst. The reaction conditions are controlled to avoid the formation of by-products and the chain extension of the polyester-polyols. The present invention is also concerned with the polyester carbonic acid esters so formed, their use in producing polycarbonate block copolymers and the copolymers so produced. The copolymers may be produced by transesterifying the polyester carbonic acid esters with bisphenols and subjecting the bis-hydroxyaryl carbonates so formed to normal polycarbonate synthesis such as interfacial or melt polycondensation.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a process for the preparation of new high-molecular weight polyester-polycarbonates which contain incorporated segments containing carboxyl groups and can be processed by thermoplastic methods, which process is characterized in that segments which contain carboxyl groups and have average molecular weights Mn (number-average of the molecular weight determined via the acid number of the segments containing carboxyl groups) of greater than about 600, preferably of greater than about 800 and in particular of between about 1,000 and 20,000, are reacted with diphenols and phosgene by the known two-phase boundary polycondensation process at a pH value of between about 9 and 14 and at a temperature of between about 0.degree. C. and 80.degree. C. and preferably of between about 15.degree. C. and 40.degree. C. and the resulting reaction products are either subjected to a heat treatment at temperatures of between about 40.degree. C. and 170.degree. C.

Abstract: Ketones are prepared by reacting an aromatic or heterocyclic aldehyde in the presence of a cyanide ion with an unsaturated compound having the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are the same or different and are selected from the group of hydrogen, optionally substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic and carboxylic acid ester andR.sup.4 is nitrile (CN), --CO--R.sup.5 or --CO--OR.sup.5whereinR.sup.5 is selected from the group of optionally substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 and/or R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 and/or R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 or R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached as substituents may also form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring.Ketones prepared according to the process of the invention have the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 .sup.' and R.sup.3 .sup.