| abstract |
Provided herein are catalysts that are useful in allowing alkylene oxides to be inserted and promoted into ester linkages. Esters used as substrates for alkoxylation include methyl esters of C 14 -C 22 fatty acids and fatty acid such as mono-, di-, and tri-esters of glycerin, including vegetable oils, animal fats and plant oils. Contains esters. The catalyst according to the present invention comprises at least two alkaline earth compounds, which can comprise any known stable compound of alkaline earths, and a carboxylic acid or a polyalkylene glycol having a molecular weight between about 100 and 1500 or about 100 and if one or more additional materials, such as C 1 -C 10 polyalkylene glycol capped with alkyl by containing having molecular weight between 1500 and was made acidic by a strong mineral acid. The preferred alkaline earths used are magnesium and calcium salts and compounds. |