Catalysts for Producing Isocyanurates from Isocyanates

A process for producing isocyanurates and isocyanurate-containing polyurethanes comprising reacting an isocyanate in the presence of a catalyst,

• wherein:
• the catalyst comprises the product of the reaction of a thiol group containing carboxylic acid with an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, scandium-group or lanthanoid base,
• wherein the reaction is performed in the absence of compounds comprising tin or lead,
• wherein the degree of deprotonation of the catalyst is ≧50% to ≦100% and the H atoms present in carboxyl groups as well as the carboxylate groups and the H atoms present in thiol groups as well as the thiolate groups are considered when calculating the degree of deprotonation.