Base-catalyzed, long-chain, active polyethers from short chain DMC-catalyzed starters

A process for preparing a long chain polyether polyol characterized by a functionality of 2 to 6 and an equivalent weight of 1000 to 2200 Da, comprising:

• (A) alkoxylating
• (1) a DMC catalyzed starter having an equivalent weight of 350 Da or less, and which comprises the alkoxylation product of
• (a) a low molecular weight polyether having a functionality of 3 and an equivalent weight of less than 350 Da,
• (b) at least one low molecular weight starter compound comprising glycerin,
• and
• (c) propylene oxide or a mixture of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, with the weight ratio of propylene oxide to ethylene oxide ranging from 80:20 to 100:0,
• in the presence of
• (d) at least one double metal cyanide catalyst;
• with
• (2) one or more alkylene oxides, wherein up to 20% of ethylene oxide is added as a cap,
• in the presence of
• (3) at least one basic catalyst;
• wherein the equivalent weight of the resultant long chain polyether polyol comprises from 2.3 weight percent to 35 weight percent of the DMC catalyzed starter (1) and from 65 weight percent to 97.7 weight percent of alkoxylation catalyzed by the basic catalyst.