An important reaction, the oligoaddition of ethylene oxide to the alco
holic hydroxyl group was investigated. The aralkyl alcohols were chose
n as base material: benzyl-, beta-phenylethyl- and gamma-phenylpropyl
alcohols. The first members of their homologue ethoxylated series were
prepared and used as standards for the determination of the average d
egree of ethoxylation (IR, UV, refractive indices) and of the molar ma
ss distribution (HPLC).