The present invention provides unimolecular metal complexes having increased activity in the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides. Also provided are methods of using such metal complexes in the synthesis of polymers. According to one aspect, the present invention provides metal complexes comprising an activating species with co-catalytic activity tethered to a multidentate ligand that is coordinated to the active metal center of the complex.

Monomers having formula (I) and process for their synthesis which comprises the etherification reaction of a halogen-derivative (ZCl, Br, I) having formula (III) with the hydroxyl group of the glycerol derivative (IV), according to the following scheme: ##STR00001##

A process for producing alkoxylates features a high growth ratio without the need of interim storage of a pre-polymer produced in a first reactor. The process may involve reacting a monomeric educt in the presence of a catalyst and a starting material in a first reactor equipped with a first circulation loop and thereafter passing a pre-polymer that is produced of the first circulation loop to a second reactor equipped with a second circulation loop, where a desired polymer is produced. The first reactor may comprise a smaller volume than the second reactor. The growth ratio, defined as a final batch volume of the second reactor divided by a minimum initial volume of the starting material in the first reactor, is at least 80:1.

A process for producing alkoxylates features a high growth ratio without the need of interim storage of a pre-polymer produced in a first reactor. The process may involve reacting a monomeric educt in the presence of a catalyst and a starting material in a first reactor equipped with a first circulation loop and thereafter passing a pre-polymer that is produced of the first circulation loop to a second reactor equipped with a second circulation loop, where a desired polymer is produced. The first reactor may comprise a smaller volume than the second reactor. The growth ratio, defined as a final batch volume of the second reactor divided by a minimum initial volume of the starting material in the first reactor, is at least 80:1.

A polyalkylene glycol-based compound of formula (1): ##STR00001##
may be one in which R.sup.1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 42 ring carbon atoms, a monovalent acyl group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, or a monovalent oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 42 ring carbon atoms, a monovalent acyl group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.3 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms; m and n are respectively numbers between 1 and 40 and 0 and 20; and m/(m+n)0.5.

A polyalkylene glycol-based compound of formula (1): ##STR00001##
may be one in which R.sup.1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 42 ring carbon atoms, a monovalent acyl group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, or a monovalent oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 42 ring carbon atoms, a monovalent acyl group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, a monovalent oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group having 2 to 32 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.3 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms; m and n are respectively numbers between 1 and 40 and 0 and 20; and m/(m+n)0.5.