POLYETHERS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

In production of a polyether using a double metal cyanide complex catalyst, the molecular weight distribution of the polyether to be obtained can be made narrower. A process for producing a polyether having at least one hydroxy group by subjecting a cyclic monomer such as an alkylene oxide to ring-opening addition polymerization to an initiator having a hydroxy group in the presence of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst, comprising the following initial step and polymerization step:
initial step: a step of supplying the cyclic monomer in an amount of from 5 to 20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the initiator to a reaction system containing the initiator and the double metal cyanide complex catalyst, to carry out reaction, wherein the temperature of the reaction system when supply of the cyclic monomer is started is from 120 to 165°C, and the maximum temperature of the reaction system after supply of the cyclic monomer is higher by from 15 to 50°C than the temperature when supply of the cyclic monomer is started; and
polymerization step: a step of supplying the cyclic monomer to the reaction system after the initial step to carry out ring-opening addition polymerization.