The synthesis of copolycarbonates with high aliphatic contents for possible applications as optical plastics is described. Copolymers of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCBD) with a series of 14 bisphenol derivatives were prepared and characterized. The refractive index of these materials varies from 1.49 for the 2,2-hexafluoropropane substituted copolymer to 1.57 for the 9,9-fluorene substituted copolymer; thus, all of the copolymers exhibit lower refractive indices than the bisphenol A homopolycarbonate. The glass transition temperatures of the copolymers vary from 110 to 210 degrees C; the beta transition temperatures vary from -70 to 0 degrees C when measured at 10 Hz by dynamic mechanical analysis. The copolymers exhibited good thermal stability (0-3% weight loss) when heated above the glass transition temperature, and only undergo extensive decomposition (80-90%) at 300-360 degrees C.