Methods for producing and purifying 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine monomers and polycarbonates derived therefrom

A composition comprising a polycarbonate and a UV stabilizer selected from the group consisting of 2-(2′-Hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazoles, wherein the polycarbonate has a weight average molecular weight of greater than 15,000, comprises more than 15 mole percent structural units derived from a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimide:

• wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl groups having 6 to 25 carbon atoms and aralkyl groups having 7 to 25 carbon atoms, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, and a halogen;
• and the remainder of the structural units derived from at least one other aromatic dihydroxy compound having the formula:
• wherein each G1 is an independently aromatic group;
• E is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an alkylidene group, a cycloaliphatic group, a sulfur-containing linkage group, a phosphorus-containing linkage group, an ether linkage group, a carbonyl group, a tertiary nitrogen group, and a silicon-containing linkage group;
• R3 is a hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group each;
• Y1 is independently selected from the groups consisting of a monovalent hydrocarbyl group, an alkenyl group, an allyl group, a halogen, an oxy group and a nitro group;
• each m is independently a whole number from zero through the number of positions on each respective G1 available for substitution;
• p is a whole number from zero through the number of positions on E available for substitution;
• t is a natural number greater than or equal to one;
• s is either zero or one;
• and u is a whole number;
• and further wherein the polycarbonate has a yellowness index of less than 10 as measured on a 3 millimeter thick plaque in accordance with ASTM D1925.