Abstract: A liquid polyethercarbonatediol compound, useful for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane having excellent weathering resistance, softness and stretchability, comprises a reaction product of (1) a carbonate-ester compound with (2) a polyetherdiol compound having, in the molecular structure thereof, structural units of -RO-(a) and structural units of —(CH2)—O-(b) and/or —CH2CH(CH3)—O-(c), in which reaction product, average molecular numbers n and m of the structural units (b) and (c), per mole of the structural units (a) satisfy the requirements: O?n?5, O?m?5 and 1<(n+m)?5.

Abstract: A refined dihydroxyaryl compound, for example, catechol, having a high degree of purity and a very low metal content is produced by evaporating a starting dihydroxyaryl compound in a distillation column, condensing the vapor fraction in a condenser connected to a top outlet of the distillation column, and collecting the condensed fraction from the condenser into a storage tank through a conduit, wherein the condenser and optionally the conduit and/or the storage tank have inside surfaces thereof formed from a metal material containing at least 25% by weight of nickel, and the condensed dihydroxyaryl compound fraction is brought into contact with the specific nickel (25% or more)-containing metal inside surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing carbonic diester comprising the formation of carbonic diester by the vapor phase catalytic reaction of an alkyl nitrite and carbon monoxide in the presence of a solid catalyst, wherein platinum group metal ion in the solid catalyst is exchanged on an ion exchange zeolite carrier.