Process for preparing alkoxylated dialkyl carbonate compounds

A process for the alkoxylation of a dialkyl carbonate comprising reacting an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, with a dialkyl carbonate having the formula:

• ##STR7## wherein R and R' can be the same or different and are a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, said reaction being conducted at a temperature of from about 80.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of (1) Calcium Catalyst A formed by reacting a reactant mixture comprising an alkoxylated alcohol mixture containing compounds having the general formula:
• R.sub.1 --O--(C.sub.m H.sub.2m O).sub.p H (II)
• wherein R.sub.1 is an organic radical containing from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and p is from 1 to 50, a calcium-containing compound which is at least partially dispersible in said alkoxylated alcohol mixture, an organic and/or an inorganic acid compound, and a metal alkoxide of a Lewis acidic metal, said calcium-containing compound and said alkoxylated alcohol mixture being mixed prior to addition of said metal alkoxide, said reactant mixture being heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect at least a partial exchange reaction between the alkoxide groups of said metal alkoxide and said hydroxyl groups of said alkoxylated alcohol, (2) Calcium Catalyst B formed by solubilizing, at least partially, a calcium-containing compound with an activator having the formula:
• Z.sub.a --X--Q--Y--Z'.sub.b (III)
• wherein X and Y are the same or different electronegative heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, a and b are the same or different integers satisfying the valency requirements of X and Y, Q is an organic radical that is electropositive or essentially neutral relative as to X and/or Y, and Z and Z' are the same or different and are either hydrogen or an organic radical that does not prevent said solubilizing (3) Calcium Catalyst C formed by admixing an alkoxylated alcohol mixture containing compounds having the general formula II, a calcium-containing compound that is at least partially dispersible in said alkoxylated alcohol mixture, and a carboxylic acid having from about 4 to about 15 carbon atoms, the mole ratio of calcium to said carboxylic acid being from about 15:1 to 1:1, to produce a calcium-containing composition having titratable alkalinity, said calcium-containing composition being obtained under conditions to prevent loss of water, and adding an amount of an inorganic acid to neutralize at least 25% of said titratable alkalinity under conditions to prevent loss of water, and (4) mixtures of Calcium Catalyst A, Calcium Catalyst B, and Calcium Catalyst C.