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.

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.

A coated food or beverage contact article that has been or will be formed into a food or beverage container or container component, a method for making such containers or container components, coating compositions and polymers for use in such article or method. The coating composition comprises a polymer derived from or derivable from a polyphenol having two or more phenylene rings linked to or through an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group or groups, wherein the polyphenol is a reaction product of a monophenol with a polyolefinic terpene. The polyphenol may be a diphenol and a reaction product of a monophenol with a diolefinic terpene. The terpene may be a cyclic terpene.

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.I(R.sup.2).sub.I(R.sup.3).sub.I(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)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, 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.

Poly(cyclic acetal)s, methods of making same, and uses of same. The poly(cyclic acetal)s may have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 10 to 3000 kiloDaltons (kDa) and over 50% of the chain ends may exclude hydroxyl groups. The poly(cyclic acetal) may be a homopolymer or copolymer(s) of poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDXL). The poly(cyclic acetal)s may have one or more or all of: a thermal stability (Td,5%) of 337? C. to 392? C.; a thermal stability of (Td.50%) of 377? C. to 462? C.; or an Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) of 85.0 kJ/mol with 2 mol % of strong acid (e.g., pKa less than or equal to 4). Methods of polymerizing poly(cyclic acetal)s may comprise reacting cyclic acetal monomers with either Lewis acid catalysts and haloalkyl ether initiators or organic cation salt catalyst(s) and proton traps. Methods of chemically recycling poly(cyclic acetal)s into cyclic acetals may react poly(cyclic acetal)s with strong acids.

Polyurethanes are made in a one-shot process from one or more polyols having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of at least 350, wherein at least 50% of the weight of iii) is a hydroxyl-containing polymer of propylene oxide, the hydroxyl-containing polymer of propylene oxide having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of at least 350, an average of 1.8 to 3 hydroxyl groups per molecule of which hydroxyl groups 40 to 70% are primary hydroxyl groups, an oxyethylene content of no greater than 10% by weight based on the weight of the polymer and a polydispersity of 1.175 or less. The polyurethanes exhibit excellent mechanical properties, are highly hygroscopic and cured rapidly.