A new method of synthesis of poly(ether carbonate)s based on interchange reactions of dihydroxy compounds with alkylene and arylene diphenyl dicarbonates containing ether group was presented. The diphenyl dicarbonate monomers were prepared from phenyl chloroformate and dihydroxy compounds containing ether group (e.g., diethylene glycol, bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) of bisphenol A, and 4,4'-oxydiphenol). The process consisted of a precondensation step under a stream of dry argon followed by a melt polycondensation at 230 or at 250 degrees C under vacuum. Four series of poly(ether carbonate)s were prepared using this approach. Using alkylene and arylene diphenyl dicarbonate-containing ether groups as monomers, the polycondensation reaction with dihydroxy compounds led to the formation of poly(ether carbonate)s having inherent viscosity values up to 0.56 dL/g and high thermal stability. The glass transition temperature values of polycarbonates were in the range 7122 degrees C. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity and spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and thermal (differential scanning calorimeteric and thermogravimetric) methods. This approach may permit the use of diphenyl dicarbonates containing other organic functional groups for the synthesis of polycarbonates containing those groups. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012