| abstract |
Catalytic glycol ethers are prepd. by reacting a glycol of formula HO-(CH2-CHR1-3)-n H (I) (where n is a +ve integer and R1 is H or alkyl) with >=1 olefin, in the presence of a strongly acid cation exchanger resin, to form glycol ethers of formula R2-O-(CH2-CHR1-OE-n R3, (II), (where R2 and R3 are each hydrocarbyl corresp. to the olefin used, or one is hydrocarbyl and the other is H). The prods. are used as solvents, and no polyglycol ether by-products are formed. |