A process for manufacture of a dendritic polyether comprising a core,
derived from a compound having two or more hydroxyl groups, and at least
one branching generation being built up from at least one hydroxyoxetane
having one oxetane group and at least one hydroxyl group is disclosed.
The process comprises ring opening addition to said core and ring opening
polymerization of said hydroxyoxetane. A mixture of the core compound and
at least one cationic initiator is prepared and said hydroxyoxetane is
fed to said mixture at a rate resulting in and/or maintaining a reaction
temperature below onset at thermal degradation and in an amount resulting
in at least one branching generation. The initiator is present in an
amount of 0.1 0.5% by weight calculated on said core and said oxetane,
preferably in an amount giving a ratio hydroxyl groups to initiator of
between 1:0.01 and 1:0.05. Yielded dendritic polyether is sebsequently
neutralised by addition of at least one alkaline compound and optionally
purified.