The synthesis of oligocarbonate diols from propylene carbonate (PC) and α,ω-diols with hydrocarbon chain of various length is presented and discussed. Syntheses with different catalysts and molar ratio of the reactants were performed. Novel method of the synthesis of oligo(ester-carbonate) diols based on PC, dimethyl succinate, adipate or terephthalate, and α,ω-diols was investigated. The resultant oligomerols did not contain any oxy-1,2-propylene fragments as well as other ether units in their chemical structure. Based on the obtained oligocarbonate and oligo(ester-carbonate) diols, polyurethanes were obtained according to the prepolymer method using isophorone and hexamethylene diisocyanate and water as a chain extender. The obtained products exhibited very good mechanical properties - tensile strength up to 50 MPa with 425% elongation at break [for PUR based on oligo(tetramethylene carbonate) diol] and 45 MPa, 625% [for (oligo(tetramethylene succinate-co-carbonate)diol with 44 mol % of carbonate units]. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc;