Improved method for alkoxylating active hydrogen containing compounds and the alkoxylated compounds made therefrom

A polyether composition comprised of a polyether, a functionalizing catalyst and a metal cyanide catalyst is formed by forming a functionalized initiator compound by reacting a precursor initiator compound with a functionalizing compound and a functionalizing catalyst to form the functionalized initiator compound, forming a mixture of the functionalized initiator compound containing at least a portion of the functionalizing catalyst, an alkylene oxide and a metal cyanide catalyst complex, and subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to activate the catalyst complex and to alkoxylate the functionalized initiator compound to form the polyether. The functionalized initiator compound may be of a vegetable oil, animal fat or modified vegetable oil or modified animal fat. The functionalizing catalyst may be a tin, titanium, iodine, rhodium, nickel, acid or enzyme catalyst.