Direct ethoxylation of a longer-chain aliphatic ester

2-Ethylhexyl laurate, as an exemplary longer-chain aliphatic ester, was sub jected to direct ethoxylation. The synthesis was described and the obtained products were analyzed qualitatively by means of the mass spectrometry and chromatographic methods. Solubility of the obtained ethoxylates was studie d by determination of their cloud points in selected model solutions. It wa s shown that longer-chain aliphatic esters are feasible as raw materials fo r ethoxylation in the presence of an appropriate catalyst. They undergo eff ective and selective reaction with ethylene oxide without formation of exce ssive amounts of by-products. The obtained products exhibit typical propert ies of ethoxylate-type nonionic surfactants. Their solubility in water and butyldiglycol solution was relatively lower compared to their methyl ester equivalents.