Urea catalyst for preparation of sucrose polyols useful for rigid polyurethane foams

The polyol having reduced color prepared by a process comprising reacting a polyhydric initiator or mixtures thereof with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to the polyhydric initiator is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1, wherein the polyhydric initiator is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glycerine, sorbitol, trimethylolpropane, sucrose, alpha-methylglucoside and pentaerythritol.

A polyol having reduced color prepared by a process comprising reacting aqueous sucrose with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to sucrose is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1.

A polyol having reduced color prepared by a process comprising reacting aqueous sucrose with one or more alkylene oxides containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the mole ratio of alkylene oxide to sucrose is from about 8:1 to about 20:1, in the presence of an amount of urea such that the mole ratio to sucrose is from about 0.2:1 to about 2:1.

A process for producing a polyol having reduced color consisting essentially of reacting a polyhydric initiator or mixtures thereof with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to the polyhydric initiator is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1.

The process for producing a polyol having reduced color consisting essentially of reacting a polyhydric initiator or mixtures thereof with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to the polyhydric initiator is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1, wherein the polyhydric initiator is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glycerine, sorbitol, trimethylolpropane, sucrose, alpha-methylglucoside and pentaerythritol.

A process for producing a polyol having reduced color comprising reacting aqueous sucrose with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to the polyhydric initiator is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1, in the absence of a subsequent alkoxylation with an added catalyst.

A process for producing a polyol having reduced color by reacting aqueous sucrose with one or more alkylene oxides containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the mole ratio of alkylene oxide to sucrose is from about 8:1 to about 20:1, in the presence of an amount of urea such that the mole ratio of urea to sucrose is from about 0.2:1 to about 2:1, in the absence of a subsequent alkoxylation with an added catalyst.

A process for producing a polyol having reduced color comprising reacting a polyhydric initiator or mixtures thereof with one or more alkylene oxides where the only catalyst employed is urea in a catalytic effective amount.