The kinetics of initial steps of formation of polyetherols in the reaction between melamine and ethylene carbonate in dimethylsulfoxide in presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as catalyst was studied. Based upon kinetic studies performed with various concentrations of melamine and catalyst, the rate law was formulated and a mechanism of the reaction was proposed. The activation parameters DeltaG(#), DeltaH(#), and DeltaS(#) were obtained from the temperature dependence of kinetics. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.