a process has been surprisingly discovered that can produce a high heat carbonate polymer , without the drawbacks encountered in attempts to produce a high heat carbonate polymer . the process of the instant invention comprises the steps of : reacting an aromatic amine with a dihydric phenol to prepare an aminophenol ; reacting an anhydride or dianhydride with the aminophenol to prepare a phenolic precursor ; and reacting the phenolic precursor with a carbonate precursor to prepare a high heat carbonate polymer .