Process for preparing alkoxylation catalyst and alkoxylation process

An alkoxylation process comprising:

• reacting (I) a catalyst precursor selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) Catalyst A formed by reacting a reaction medium comprising an ethoxylated alcohol mixture comprising compounds having the general formula:
• R1-0-(C2H40)pH I
• wherein R1 is an organic radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and p is an integer of from 1 to 30, an alkaline earth metal compound selected from the group consisting of calcium-containing compounds, strontium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof which is at least partially dispersible in said ethoxylated alcohol mixture, an inorganic acid, and a metal alkoxide of a Lewis acidic metal, said reaction medium being optionally 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 the hydroxyl groups of said ethoxylated alcohol;
• and
• (2) Catalyst B formed by reacting an ethoxylated alcohol mixture comprising compounds having the Formula I, an alkaline earth metal compound selected from the group consisting of calcium-containing compounds, strontium-containing compounds and mixtures thereof which is at least partially dispersible in said ethoxylated alcohol mixture, and a carboxylic acid having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms, the mol ratio of alkaline earth metal compound to said carboxylic acid being from about 15:1 to 1:1, to produce an alkaline earth metal containing composition having titratable alkalinity, said alkaline earth metal 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 to produce a partially neutralized compound;
• with (II) propylene oxide under conditions to propoxylate Catalyst A or Catalyst B to produce a propoxylated Catalyst A or a propoxylated Catalyst B, respectively;
• and
• (3) reacting, in the presence of one of said propoxylated Catalyst A or propoxylated Catalyst B, a reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds having active hydrogen atoms, carboxylated compounds and mixtures thereof, with ethylene oxide under alkoxylation conditions to produce an alkoxylated derivative of said reactant.