Patent ID: 7199193
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
1. A process for the preparation of a substituted polyethylene glycol compound having the formula wherein R represents a C 1-7 hydrocarbon group, n represents the average number of moles of C 2 H 4 O groups, ranging from 600 to 2000 and Y represents hydrogen or an alkali metal, the substituted polyethylene glycol compound having a ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight in the range of from 1 to 1.1, the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight of the substituted polyethylene glycol compound being determined by gel permeation chromatography, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a reaction mixture comprising an alcohol represented by the formula R(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 0-20 OH, where R represents a C 1-7 hydrocarbon group, an alkoxide of the alcohol and a polyether solvent, the reaction mixture being at a temperature in the range of from about 80 to about 140 degrees Celsius, the water concentration of the reaction mixture being less than ten parts per million by weight, the mole ratio of the alkoxide of the alcohol to the alcohol being in the range of from about 0.01 to about 100; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with ethylene oxide so that the ethylene oxide reacts therein to form the substituted polyethylene glycol compound.