| abstract |
A process for the preparation of polyoxyalkylene ethers of the formula R1O-[CnH2nO-]xM in which R1 is an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylene radical, an aryl radical or an alkaryl radical, M is an alkali cation, n is any number from 2 to 3, and x is a whole number, by the stoichiometric polymerization of alkylene oxides or their mixtures having the general formula CnH2nO on alkali alcoholate mixtures, composed of 1 to 20 mole percent of potassium alcoholate and 99 to 80 mole percent of sodium alcoholate. Compared to the use of sodium alcoholate alone, the addition reaction proceeds uniformly at temperatures as low as 80 DEG to 100 DEG C. and the initial delay at the start of the reaction is avoided. Even so, it is possible to keep the isomerization of propylene oxide to allyl alcohol within limits. Products are obtained with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and a low double bond content. |