Thermoplastic resins and optical components containing them

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a polycarbonate resin having a high refractive index and a low birefringence, and having a suitable glass transition temperature suitable for use as an optical lens, and an optical component containing the same. The thermoplastic resin disclosed herein comprises repeating units represented by the following formulas (1), (2), and (3). The repeating units represented by formula (1) are based on full repeating units and are 70.0% by mass or more and 98.0% by mass or less. The repeating units represented by formula (3) are based on full repeating units and are 0.1% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less: (In formula (1), R1 to R4 are independent and represent any one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituent with 1 to 20 carbon atoms that may contain an aromatic group, or a substituent with 2 to 20 carbon atoms that may contain a heterocyclic ring. m1 and m2 are independent and represent 0 or 1.) (In formula (2), n1 and n2 are independent and represent 0 or 1.) (In formula (3), X represents an alkyl group with 4 to 14 carbon atoms.)