Process of manufacturing surfactants and lubricants

A method of producing an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant, the method comprising:

• reacting a low molecular weight initiator with ethylene oxide in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 1, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R1)I(R2)I(R3)I(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 or chloro-substituted phenyl group, R3 includes a third fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a second fluoro or chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional R4 includes a functional group or functional polymer group, Rt being different from at least one of R2 and R3;
• and
• forming an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant or lubricant 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:
• the Lewis acid catalyst has the general formula M(R1)I(R2)I(R3)I(R4)0 or 1, whereas R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is the same as the first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and R3 is the second fluoro or chloro-substituted phenyl group, or
• the Lewis acid catalyst has the general formula M(R1)I(R2)I(R3)I(R4)0 or 1, whereas R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is the same as the 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
• the Lewis acid catalyst has the general formula M(R1)I(R2)I(R3)I(R4)0 or 1, whereas R2 is the second fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group that is different from the first fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and 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)I(R2)I(R3)I(R4)0 or 1, whereas at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is a 3,4- or 3,5-bis(fluoroalkyl)-substituted phenyl group, or
• the Lewis acid catalyst has the general formula M(R1)I(R2)I(R3)I(R4)I.