Use of hydrophobized hydrotalcites as catalysts for ethoxylation or propoxylation

A process for the catalyzed ethoxylation or propoxylation of compounds selected from the group consisting of organic compounds containing active H atoms, esters of fatty acids containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms with monoalkanols containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and full esters of fatty acids containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms with polyols containing 2 to 12 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, wherein the improvement comprises the use as catalyst for the ethoxylation or propoxylation of hydrophobicized hydrotalcites corresponding to general formula I:

• Mg.sub.x Al(OH).sub.y (CO.sub.3).sub.m (A).sub.n.zH.sub.2 O (I)
• in which A is selected from the group consisting of (i) a dianion of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 44 carbon atoms and (ii) two anions of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids containing 2 to 34 carbon atoms;
• 1<x<5;
• y.ltoreq.2x+2;
• {y+2(m+n)}=2x+3;
• m+n.ltoreq.0.5;
• m.gtoreq.0;
• n>0;
• and 0<z<10.