Bisphenol A is produced by the condensation of phenol with propanone.
Carbonyl chloride is produced from carbon monoxide and chlorine:
The polymer is usually formed by the reaction of bisphenol A and carbonyl chloride in a basic solution.
A solution of bisphenol A in sodium hydroxide (i.e. a solution of the sodium salt of the phenol) is prepared. It is mixed with a solution of carbonyl chloride in an organic solvent (dichloromethane). The polymerization takes place at the interface between the aqueous and organic layers with the help of a catalyst (an amine):