| abstract |
A method of producing an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant, the method including reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 1, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R 1 ) 1 (R 2 ) 1 (R 3 ) 1 (R 4 ) 0 or 1 , whereas M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each independent, R 1 includes a first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R 2 includes a second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a first fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, R 3 includes a third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a second fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional R 4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group, R 1 being different from at least one of R 2 and R 3 . The method further including forming an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst. |