To establish the mechanism of reaction of formation of oligoetherols with perhydro-1,3,5-triazine ring, the kinetics of reaction of isocyanuric acid and 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyetyl) isocyanurate with ethylene carbonate resulting in formation of polyetherols in the presence of diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane as a catalyst has been investigated. The kinetic and mechanistic studies revealed that the initial step of reaction is zero order related to ethylene carbonate and the reaction is inhibited by imide groups of isocyanuric acid. The mechanism of reaction was confirmed by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: [550][551][552][553][554][555][556][557][558][559][560][561] 2010