Phosphonium carboxylate catalysts for the preparation of foams characterized by isocyanurate, and/or urethane linkages

Claim 2

A process for the preparation of a cellular foam characterized by isocyanurate linkages which comprises reacting an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically sufficient amount of a catalyst which is the reaction product of (a) a tertiary phosphine, (b) an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a carboxylic acid in a ratio of 0.75 mole to 1.25 moles of alkylene oxide to 0.75 equivalent to 1.25 equivalents of acid per equivalent of phosphorus.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said tertiary phosphine is tributylphosphine.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

Claim 6

A process for the preparation of a cellular foam characterized by urethane and/or isocyanurate linkages which comprises reacting one equivalent of an organic polyisocyanate and from 0.01 to 0.5 equivalent of a polyol in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically sufficient amount of a catalyst which is the reaction product of (a) a tertiary phosphine, (b) an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a carboxylic acid in a ratio of 0.75 mole to 1.25 moles of alkylene oxide to 0.75 equivalent to 1.25 equivalents of acid per equivalent of phosphorus.

Claim 7

A process for the preparation of a cellular foam characterized by urethane and/or isocyanurate linkages which comprises reacting one equivalent of an organic polyisocyanate and from 0.01 to 0.5 equivalent of a polyol in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically sufficient amount of a catalyst which is the reaction product of (a) a tertiary phosphine, (b) an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a carboxylic acid in a ratio of 0.75 mole to 1.25 moles of alkylene oxide to 0.75 equivalent to 1.25 equivalents of acid per equivalent of phosphorus.

Claim 8

The process of claim 5 wherein said tertiary phosphine is tributylphosphine.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid.

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

Claim 11

A process for the preparation of a cellular foam characterized by polyurethane linkages which comprises reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol, on an essentially 1:1 equivalent basis, in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically sufficient amount of a catalyst which is the reaction product of (a) a tertiary phosphine, (b) an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a carboxylic acid in a ratio of 0.27 mole to 1.25 moles of ethylene oxide to 0.75 equivalent to 1.25 equivalents of acid per equivalent of phosphorus.

Claim 12

A process for the preparation of a cellular foam characterized by polyurethane linkages which comprises reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol, on an essentially 1:1 equivalent basis, in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically sufficient amount of a catalyst which is the reaction product of (a) a tertiary phosphine, (b) an alkylene oxide containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a carboxylic acid in a ratio of 0.27 mole to 1.25 moles of ethylene oxide to 0.75 equivalent to 1.25 equivalents of acid per equivalent of phosphorus.

Claim 13

The process of claim 9 wherein said tertiary phosphine is tributylphosphine.

Claim 14

The process of claim 10 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid.

Claim 15

The process of claim 11 wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.