Processes for producing carbonic ester and producing polycarbonate

2:

• The process of claim 1, wherein the reaction environment further comprises a promoter.

3:

• The process of claim 2, wherein the promoter is a redox catalyst.

4:

• The process of claim 2, wherein the promoter is an organic salt.

5:

• The process of claim 1, wherein the reaction environment further comprises a dehydrating agent.

6:

• The process of claim 1, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is selected from dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, diphenyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, diallyl carbonate, allyl methyl carbonate, bis(2-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, vinylene carbonate, dibenzyl carbonate, di-(o-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, methyl ethyl carbonate, and combinations thereof.

7:

• The process of claim 6, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is propylene carbonate.

8:

• A process for producing a carbonic ester, the process comprising reacting an aromatic monohydroxy compound or an aliphatic monohydroxy compound with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of (a) a palladium compound, (b) a compound having redox catalytic activity, (c) at least one onium salt selected from an onium bromide, an onium chloride, and combinations thereof, and (d) zeolite having a particle diameter of 300 μm or smaller.

9-16. (canceled)

17:

• The process of claim 3, wherein the promoter is both a redox catalyst and an organic salt.

18:

• The process of claim 2, wherein the reaction environment further comprises a dehydrating agent.

19:

• The process of claim 3, wherein the reaction environment further comprises a dehydrating agent.

20:

• The process of claim 4, wherein the reaction environment further comprises a dehydrating agent.

21:

• The process of claim 2, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is selected from methyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, diphenyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, diallyl carbonate, allyl methyl carbonate, bis(2-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, vinylene carbonate, dibenzyl carbonate, di-(o-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, methyl ethyl carbonate, and combinations thereof.

22:

• The process of claim 21, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is propylene carbonate.

23:

• The process of claim 3, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is selected from methyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, diphenyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, diallyl carbonate, allyl methyl carbonate, bis(2-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, vinylene carbonate, dibenzyl carbonate, di-(o-methoxyphenyl)carbonate, methyl ethyl carbonate, and combinations thereof.

24:

• The process of claim 23, wherein the compound having a carbonate bond is propylene carbonate.

25:

• The process of claim 1, wherein the aromatic monohydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation in the reaction environment.

26:

• The process of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic monohydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation in the reaction environment.

27:

• The process of claim 8, wherein the aromatic monohydroxy compound is reacted with the carbon monoxide and the oxygen.

28:

• The process of claim 8, wherein the aliphatic monohydroxy compound is reacted with the carbon monoxide and the oxygen.