| abstract |
A process for the preparation of alkylene glycols by reacting an alkylene oxide with water in the presence of at least one ionic composition of a quaternary phosphonium cation of the general formula R1R2R3R4P+ whereby each of R¿1?, R2, R3 and R4, independently, may be an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, each of which may carry one or more substituents, or be attached to a polymer and an anion other than metalate or halogen. |