A method of producing a polyether polyol that includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a number average molecular weight of less than 1,000 g/mol and a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 2, the one or more monomers including at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R.sup.1).sub.1(R.sup.2).sub.1(R.sup.3).sub.1(R.sup.4).sub.0 or 1. Whereas, M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 each includes a same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group. The method further includes forming a polyether polyol 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.

A higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor is obtained by reacting a long-chain olefin with a (poly)alkylene glycol. The precursor has a content of (poly)alkylene glycol of 0.2% by mass or lower with respect to the total mass of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate; a higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate adduct which is an alkylene oxide adduct of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor; and a higher secondary alkyl ether sulfate ester salt which is a sulfated product of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor or the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate adduct.

A higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor is obtained by reacting a long-chain olefin with a (poly)alkylene glycol. The precursor has a content of (poly)alkylene glycol of 0.2% by mass or lower with respect to the total mass of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate; a higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate adduct which is an alkylene oxide adduct of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor; and a higher secondary alkyl ether sulfate ester salt which is a sulfated product of the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate precursor or the higher secondary alcohol alkoxylate adduct.

A high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst, a method for fabricating the same, and applications of the same are disclosed. An organic complexing ligand, which is formed via mixing fatty alcohols and alicyclic carbonates, is used to generate a high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst. The high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst includes at least one double-metal-cyanide compound, at least one organic complexing ligand, and an optional functionalized compound. The double-metal-cyanide catalyst of the present invention has a higher activity than the conventional double-metal-cyanide catalysts. The polyols generated by the present invention has an insignificant amount of high-molecular-weight compounds.

A high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst, a method for fabricating the same, and applications of the same are disclosed. An organic complexing ligand, which is formed via mixing fatty alcohols and alicyclic carbonates, is used to generate a high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst. The high-activity double-metal-cyanide catalyst includes at least one double-metal-cyanide compound, at least one organic complexing ligand, and an optional functionalized compound. The double-metal-cyanide catalyst of the present invention has a higher activity than the conventional double-metal-cyanide catalysts. The polyols generated by the present invention has an insignificant amount of high-molecular-weight compounds.

Described herein are compounds according to general formula (I)

R.sup.1—CHR.sup.2—CH.sub.2—O-(AO).sub.x—CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—R.sup.3  (I).

Also described herein are a process to make the compounds according to general formula (I), and a method of using the compounds according to general formula (I) in a composition for automatic dishwashing.

Described herein are compounds according to general formula (I)

R.sup.1—CHR.sup.2—CH.sub.2—O-(AO).sub.x—CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—R.sup.3  (I).

Also described herein are a process to make the compounds according to general formula (I), and a method of using the compounds according to general formula (I) in a composition for automatic dishwashing.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the highly selective production of dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70. The present invention is a method for producing dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70, the method comprising a reaction step of making a reactant comprising propylene oxide and water react in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum, and the Hammett acidity function (H) of the catalyst satisfies H≦9.3.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the highly selective production of dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70. The present invention is a method for producing dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70, the method comprising a reaction step of making a reactant comprising propylene oxide and water react in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum, and the Hammett acidity function (H) of the catalyst satisfies H≦9.3.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the highly selective production of dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70. The present invention is a method for producing dipropylene glycol containing 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70 and/or tripropylene glycol containing 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol in a proportion of 0.10 to 0.70, the method comprising a reaction step of making a reactant comprising propylene oxide and water react in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum, and the Hammett acidity function (H) of the catalyst satisfies H≦9.3.