A double metal cyanide [DMC] catalyst and a method for the synthesis thereof at room temperature is disclosed herein. Various Schiff bases are incorporated as organic complexing agents in the DMC catalysts. The catalysts of the present invention are highly active for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxides in the presence of different H-functional initiators to produce polyether polyols (PEPO) with a wide range of average molecular weight (M.sub.w) and polydispersity index (PDI).

The invention is related to a method for preparing polyether polyols, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a crude polyether polyols and a base catalyst; b) mixing the crude polyether polyols mixture with an acid thereby providing a neutralized polyether polyols mixture; c) removing water from the neutralized polyether polyols mixture, thereby providing a dehydrated neutralized polyether polyols mixture comprising polyether polyols and a suspension of the crystallized salts suspended in the polyether polyols; d) separating the polyether polyols from the crystallized salt by filtration resulting in a filtration cake comprising crystallized salts and remaining polyether polyols around the crystals; e) removing polyether polyols from the filter, leaving a filtration cake; f) redissolving the filtration cake obtaining a mixture of a salt solution and the remaining polyether polyols; and separating and removing the remaining polyether polyols from the salt solution.

The invention is related to a method for preparing polyether polyols, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a crude polyether polyols and a base catalyst; b) mixing the crude polyether polyols mixture with an acid thereby providing a neutralized polyether polyols mixture; c) removing water from the neutralized polyether polyols mixture, thereby providing a dehydrated neutralized polyether polyols mixture comprising polyether polyols and a suspension of the crystallized salts suspended in the polyether polyols; d) separating the polyether polyols from the crystallized salt by filtration resulting in a filtration cake comprising crystallized salts and remaining polyether polyols around the crystals; e) removing polyether polyols from the filter, leaving a filtration cake; f) redissolving the filtration cake obtaining a mixture of a salt solution and the remaining polyether polyols; and separating and removing the remaining polyether polyols from the salt solution.

Described is a cationic initiator system comprising a cationic initiator; and an accelerator composition comprising 1) a operoxyketal; and 2) an accelerator compound selected from arylhydroxy compounds and β-diketone compounds.

Disclosed herein are catalyst systems useful for a wide range of ring opening polymerization processes. Epoxides, oxetanes, lactones and cyclic carbonates are all suitable substrates for the ring opening polymerization.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to haze-free polyurethane formulations, more particularly, to haze-free polyurethane formulations including tripropylene glycol (TPG) initiator polyol formed in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst via a continuous process that can be utilized to form haze-free polyurethanes. As an example, a haze-free polyurethane formulation can include a TPG initiator polyol formed in the presence of a DMC catalyst via a continuous process, where the TPG pre-polymer is 30 to 45 percent by weight of the haze-free polyurethane formulation, an organic solvent present from 30 to 60 percent by weight of the haze-free polyurethane formulation, and a polyisocyanate, where the polyurethane formulation has an isocyanate index in a range from 70 to 500.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to haze-free polyurethane formulations, more particularly, to haze-free polyurethane formulations including tripropylene glycol (TPG) initiator polyol formed in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst via a continuous process that can be utilized to form haze-free polyurethanes. As an example, a haze-free polyurethane formulation can include a TPG initiator polyol formed in the presence of a DMC catalyst via a continuous process, where the TPG pre-polymer is 30 to 45 percent by weight of the haze-free polyurethane formulation, an organic solvent present from 30 to 60 percent by weight of the haze-free polyurethane formulation, and a polyisocyanate, where the polyurethane formulation has an isocyanate index in a range from 70 to 500.

The present disclosure provides a Lewis acid-base pair catalytic initiator and an application thereof. The Lewis acid-base pair catalytic initiator includes a Lewis acid and a Lewis base, the Lewis acid having a structural general formula as shown in formula (I) and the Lewis base having a structural general formula as shown in formula (II); wherein: the A is selected from element Baron or element Aluminum; the R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 are independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, aryl or halogen groups; the alkyl or alkoxy have a carbon number being equal to or greater than 1 to equal to or less than 16; the aryl contains substituents with the number being equal to or less than 5, the substituents being selected from methyl, methoxy or halogen; n is selected from an integer from 1 to 16.

Degradable ethylene oxide-based copolymers, including random, tapering, and block copolymers are described. For example, the present disclosure describes materials and methods for synthesizing degradable hydrophilic ethylene oxide-based copolymers, degradable amphiphilic ethylene oxide-based block copolymers, degradable hydrophobic polyethers and degradable functionalized polyethers via boron-activated copolymerization of ethylene oxide monomers with carbon dioxide.

Degradable ethylene oxide-based copolymers, including random, tapering, and block copolymers are described. For example, the present disclosure describes materials and methods for synthesizing degradable hydrophilic ethylene oxide-based copolymers, degradable amphiphilic ethylene oxide-based block copolymers, degradable hydrophobic polyethers and degradable functionalized polyethers via boron-activated copolymerization of ethylene oxide monomers with carbon dioxide.