Polymerization of alkylene oxides using metal cyanide catalysts and unsaturated initiator compounds

A process for preparing a polyether, comprising forming a mixture of an initiator compound having one or one oxyalkylatable groups, at least one alkylene oxide and a metal cyanide catalyst complex and in the absence of a polymerization inhibitor, and subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to activate the catalyst complex and to alkoxylate the oxyalkylatable groups of the initiator, wherein the initiator compound contains nonconjugated, carbon-carbon unsaturation that is (a) migratable, (b) adjacent to a hydroxyl-substituted tertiary carbon atom, or (c) both (a) and (b);

• and wherein the polyethers so prepared have an average molecular weight of up to 6000.