A method for the synthesis of a substituted poly(alkylene oxide) comprises reacting a substituted alcohol of formula (1) with an alkylene oxide of formula (2) in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to provide the substituted poly(alkylene oxide) of formula (3) wherein in the foregoing formulas, each R is independently hydrogen, C1-60 alkyl, or C3-12 cycloalkyl, ring A is cyclohexane or phenyl, each R1 is independently hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, or hexadecyl, preferably hydrogen or methyl, and n is 2 to 60.