Patent ID: 7223832

Claim:
A process for preparing a polyol comprising combining i) at least one starter compound which has active hydrogen atoms; with ii) at least one oxide; in the presence of iii) at least one double-metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst prepared by combining at least one metal salt, at least one metal cyanide salt, at least one organic complexing ligand, at least one alkali metal salt, chosen from potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, lithium chloride and lithium bromide, and optionally, at least one functionalized polymer, under conditions sufficient to form a catalyst; and adding a sufficient amount of the at least one alkali metal salt to the catalyst so formed in an amount such that the catalyst includes the at least one alkali metal salt in an amount of from about 0.4 to about 6 wt. % based on the total weight of the catalyst; under conditions sufficient to form a polyol.