Halogen-free solvents for oxidative carbonylation of bisphenol A to polycarbonate using carbon monoxide were investigated. Tetrahydorofuran, gamma-butyrolacton, and acetophenone, which dissolve both bisphenol A and polycarbonate, gave a polycarbonate yield that was lower than using a halogenated solvent of dichloromethane. On the other hand, propylene carbonate that has a carbonate bond gave a polycarbonate yield the same as using dichloromethane. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.