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 composition comprising: a bulk material; and at least one surface; the bulk material comprising ions of a metal M bonded to one another via linker groups; the surface comprising ions of a metal M′ bonded to one another via linker groups; the metals M and M′ being the same or different; the surface comprising at least one first site A and at least one second, different site B; the site A having a hydroxyl group bonded thereto; the site B being a Lewis acidic site; is described. Methods of forming the composition and the use of the composition as a catalyst, in particular to catalyse reactions in which CO.sub.2 is incorporated into the structure of a molecule, in particular a polymer, are also described.

The invention relates to a process for starting up a reactor for the continuous production process of polyether carbonate polyols by the addition of alkylene oxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a DMC catalyst and/or a metal complex catalyst based on the metals cobalt and/or zinc to an H-functional starter substance, in which process: (α) a portion of the H-functional starter substance and/or a suspension medium which has no H-functional groups is mixed in a reactor with a DMC catalyst and/or a metal complex catalyst, the DMC catalyst and/or the metal complex catalyst having a concentration s in the mixture; and (γ), after step (α), the H-functional starter substance, alkylene oxide and DMC catalyst and/or a metal complex catalyst are continuously fed into the reactor during the addition process and the resulting reaction mixture is removed from the reactor, and a steady state is achieved.

Provided are compositions comprising isotactic polyethers. Methods of making isotactic polyethers, and uses thereof are also disclosed. Also provided are bimetallic complexes that can be used as catalyst. Methods of making isotactic polyethers and bimetallic complexes and uses thereof are also disclosed. For example, a racemic bimetallic (salalen)CrCl polymerization catalyst was prepared and used alkyl diol, PO-oligomer triols, and aPPO and PCL diols as CSAs in order to produce α,ω-hydroxy telechelic iPPO. These telechelic polymers have controlled molecular weights and are semicrystalline. Amorphous α,ω-hydroxy telechelic PPO can also be produced by increasing the reaction temperature in conjunction with the use of CSAs.

A method of producing a high primary hydroxyl group content and a high number average molecular weight polyol includes preparing a mixture that includes a double metal cyanide catalyst and a low molecular weight polyether polyol having a number average molecular weight of less than 1,000 g/mol, the polyether polyol is derived from propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, or butylene oxide, setting the mixture to having a first temperature, adding at least one selected from propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, and butylene oxide to the mixture at the first temperature, allowing the mixture to react to form a reacted mixture, adding a Lewis acid catalyst to the reacted mixture, setting the reaction mixture including the second catalyst to have a second temperature that is less than the first temperature, and adding additional at least one selected from propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, and butylene oxide to the reacted mixture at the second temperature such that a resultant polyol having a primary hydroxyl group content of at least 60% and a number average molecular weight greater than 2,500 g/mol is formed.

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.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions comprising an organopalladium compound, a photoacid generator, a photosensitizer, one or more epoxy group containing olefinic monomers. The compositions of this invention may additionally contain one or more olefinic monomers and a stabilizer, such as for example a hindered amine. The compositions undergo simultaneous vinyl addition polymerization and cationic polymerization when exposed to a suitable actinic radiation to form a substantially transparent film. The compositions of this invention are stable at room temperature for several days to several months and undergo mass polymerization only when subjected to suitable actinic radiation. The monomers employed therein have a range of optical and mechanical properties, and thus these compositions can be tailored to form films having various opto-electronic properties. More specifically, the compositions of this invention undergo much faster mass polymerization and exhibit superior thermo-mechanical properties when compared with the compositions containing only the olefinic monomers. Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, sealants, adhesives, among others.

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 method of producing a polyether alcohol that includes feeding an initiator into a reactor, feeding one or more monomers into the reactor, feeding a polymerization catalyst into the reactor, the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having 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, separate from feeding the initiator into the reactor, feeding a hydrogen bond acceptor additive into the reactor, the hydrogen bond acceptor additive being a C.sub.2 to C.sub.20 organic molecule having at least two hydroxyl groups, of which two hydroxyl groups are situated in 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4- positions on the organic molecule, and allowing the initiator to react with the one or more monomers in the presence of the polymerization catalyst and the hydrogen bond acceptor additive to form a polyether alcohol having a number average molecular weight greater than a number average molecular weight of the initiator.

Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.