Novel polyols derived from a vegetable oil using an oxidation process

摘要

A method for producing a vegetable oil-derived polyol having increased hydroxyl functionality by reacting a vegetable oil with an oxidizing agent in the presence of an organometallic catalyst is provided. The resulting higher functionality polyols derived from vegetable oil produced by the process are also provided. Also provided is a method for decreasing the acid value of a vegetable oil-derived polyol by reacting the vegetable oil-derived polyol with an epoxide component in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst. Urethane products produced using higher functional vegetable oil-derived polyols and/or lower acid vegetable oil-derived polyols are also provided.