Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Esther E Quintanilla

Francois M Casati

Jean-Paul Masy

Paul A Cookson

Carlos M Villa

Hanno R Van Der Wal

Ricco B Borella

Daniel Clay Floyd

Myriam Linke

Ethylene carbonate is polymerized by itself or together with another cyclic monomer such as 1,2-propylene oxide in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst. Most of the ethylene carbonate adds to the chain to form a terminal carbonate group, which decarboxylates to produce a hydroxyethyl group at the end of the polymer chain. The polymerization of more ethylene carbonate onto the chain end results in the formation of poly(ethyleneoxy) units. Therefore, the process provides a method for making poly(ethyleneoxy) polymers without the need to polymerize ethylene oxide. The process is useful for making polyethers that are useful as water-absorbable polymers, surfactants and as raw materials for polyurethanes. The process is also useful for increasing the primary hydroxyl content of a polyether.

Process for making polyether alcohols having oxyethylene units by polymerization of ethylene carbonate in the presence of double metal cyanide catalysts

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Antwerpen, Belgium

Esther E Quintanilla