Abstract:
Disclosed are novel polyether compounds obtained by the reaction or polymerization of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene in the presence of tetrahydrofuran, an acidic catalyst and a nucleophilic initiator compound. The polyether compounds comprise m units of residue (1), n units of residue (2), and p units of residue (3) wherein (i) residues (1), (2) and (3) have the structures: ##STR1## (ii) the total value of m+n+p is 5 to 70; (iii) the value of n/(m+n+p) is in the range of 0.2 to 0.4, i.e., residue (2) constitutes from 20 to 40 mole percent of the total moles of residues (1), (2) and (3); and (iv) at least 98 percent of the terminal groups have the structure: ##STR2##