A method of producing a polyether polyol that includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide 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, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R.sup.1)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)1(R.sup.4)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. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl 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 method of producing a polyether polyol includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, and the low molecular weight initiator has a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 2. The polymerization catalyst is 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)0 or 1, whereas M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independent, R.sup.1 includes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.2 incudes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.3 includes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group, R.sup.1 being different from at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3.

The present invention is concerned with a reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization, which is able to micronize the particle diameter of a polymer emulsion and to reduce the addition amount of the reactive surfactant composition to be used.

The reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization of the present invention contains a reactive anionic surfactant (component A) represented by the following formula (I), the component A being satisfied with the following requirement R:

##STR00001## wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having a carbon number of 3 or more and 18 or less; E represents an ethyleneoxy group; p represents an integer of 1 or more and 15 or less; m represents an integer of 0 or more; n represents an integer of 0 or more; M.sup.+ represents a hydrogen ion or a cation; and plural kinds of AOs may coexist.

Requirement R: An average addition molar number m of AO is a number of 1 or more and 50 or less; an average addition molar number n of EO is a number of 0 or more and 200 or less; and when in the component A, a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m3) or less is defined as (component A-1), and a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m+2) or more is defined as (component A-2), X in the following formula (I) is less than 30, provided that when m is less than 3, (m=0) is defined as (component A-1):

X={(molar number of component A-1)+(molar number of component A-2)}(molar number of component A)100(I).

The invention relates to inorganic-organic hybrid materials comprising interpenetrated organic and inorganic components, wherein the organic component comprises polymer chains formed at least in part by ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic monomer, and processes for the production thereof.

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.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, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independent, R.sup.1 includes a first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.2 includes a second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a first fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.3 includes a third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a second fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group, R.sup.1 being different from at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.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.

A method of producing a polyether polyol includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, and the low molecular weight initiator has a nominal hydroxyl functionality of at least 2. The one or more monomers includes at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide. The polymerization catalyst is 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, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independent, R.sup.1 includes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.2 includes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.3 includes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional R.sup.4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group, R.sup.1 being different from at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3.

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)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)1(R.sup.4)0 or 1. Whereas, M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R3 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 method of producing an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant includes 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.sup.1)1(R.sup.2)1(R.sup.3)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. R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group. The method further includes forming the 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.

A Lewis acid polymerization catalyst has a 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, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independent, R.sup.1 is a 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-substituted phenyl group, R.sup.2 is the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) substituted phenyl group or a first fluoro-substituted phenyl group selected from Set 1 structures, R.sup.3 is independently a second fluoro-substituted phenyl group selected from the Set 1 structures, and optional R.sup.4 includes a third functional group or functional polymer group.

The present disclosure relates to block copolymers comprising, and methods of making thereof, a polycarbonate chain linked to a hydrophilic polymer. Such block copolymers may have the formula B-A-B, where A is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain and B is a polyether. Provided methods are useful in reducing the amount of waste generated from the synthesis of polycarbonates and provide improved thermal stability and high primary hydroxyl content. Provided block copolymers also have utility as additives in enhanced oil recovery methods, and foam polymer applications.