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

• Main Authors: QUINTANILLA ESTHER E, COOKSON PAUL, LINKE MYRIAM, VILLA CARLOS M, BORELLA RICCO B, MASY JEAN-PAUL, FLOYD DANIEL C, CASATI FRANCOIS M, VAN DER WAL HANNO R
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 30.04.2014
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP

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.