A branched polycarbonate and processes for its preparation are disclosed. The polycarbonate contains structural units conforming to ##STR00001## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 mutually independently denote C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 mutually independently denote hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a C.sub.5-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl group, wherein the cycloalkyl group may be substituted.