VERETHERUNG VON POLYOXYALKYLENDERIVATEN

Etherified polyoxyalkylene derivatives of the formula where R1 is hydrogen, C1-C20-alkyl or C3-C5-alkenyl, R2 and R3 independently of one another are each hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R4 is C1-C4-alkyl and m and n are identical or different and are each greater than or equal to 0, with the proviso that the sum of m and n is from 3 to 300, are prepared by reacting the corresponding hydroxyl-containing polyoxyalkylene derivative with a dialkyl sulfate in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide by a process in which the reaction is carried out at from 20 DEG to 60 DEG C. in the presence of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, the concentration of alkali metal hydroxide during the entire duration of the reaction being not less than 35% by weight, based on the aqueous phase, and not less than 1 mole of dialkyl sulfate and not less than one mole of alkali metal hydroxide are used per mole equivalent of organic hydroxyl groups.