Process of manufacturing polyols

A method of producing a polyether polyol, comprising:

• reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a nominal hydroxyl functionality of at least 2, the one or more monomers being at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R1)1(R2)1(R3)1(R4)0 or 1, whereas M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independent, R1 includes a first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R2 includes a second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a first fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group such that is fluoro-substituted or chloro substituted phenyl, R3 includes a third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a second fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group such that is fluoro-substituted or chloro substituted phenyl, R1 being different from at least one of R2 and R3, and optional R4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group;
• and
• forming a polyether polyol having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst, wherein:
• R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is the same as first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and R3 is the second fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group;
• or
• R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is the same as first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and R3 is the third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is different from the first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group;
• or
• R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is different from the first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, R3 is the third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is different from the first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group and the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group;
• or
• the Lewis acid catalyst has the general formula M(R1)1(R2)1(R3)1(R4)1.