Sequence structure of polyether catalyzed by Fe–Zn double-metal cyanide complex catalysts

Abstract

A new kind of novel double-metal cyanide (DMC) complex catalyst was made and developed by reaction of an aqueous solution of zinc chloride and potassium hexacyanoferrate with complexing agents to form a precipitate of the DMC. For obtaining favorable catalyst activity, organic complexing agents such as t-butanol and polyols were employed. The complexing agent was incorporated into the catalyst structure, and was required for an active catalyst. Two kinds of polyether polyols were synthesized by the DMC catalysts. High-resolution 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectra were employed to identify the sequence and stereoirregular structure of the polyether polyols. The results showed that head–tail addition and a random stereoirregular structure were dominant in the microstructure of the polyether polyols which were made by DMC catalysts.