Glycidyl ether alkoxylate block copolymers

1. A compound having the following structure I:

where Ar 1 is unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl, or phenyl or naphthyl substituted with from 1 to 3 C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups; and Ar 2 is phenyl, phenyl-OCH 2 CH 2 —, naphthyl, naphthyl-CH 2 —, or naphthyl-OCH 2 CH 2 —, wherein the phenyl or naphthyl portion of Ar 2 are unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 3 C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups; each R 1 is independently H or C 1 -C 6 -alkyl; m is from 1 to 20; and n is from 2 to 100.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein Ar 1 is phenyl or o-methylphenyl; Ar 2 is phenyl, phenyl-OCH 2 CH 2 —, or o-methylphenyl; and each R 1 is independently H or CH 3 .

3. The compound of claim 2 which has a number average molecular weight in the range of from 300 to 20,000 g/mol.

4. The compound of claim 3 which has a number average molecular weight in the range of from 500 to 10,000 g/mol is selected from the group consisting of:

5. A coating composition comprising the compound of claim 1 , a binder, a rheology modifier and at least one material selected from the group consisting of dispersants, pigments, defoamers, surfactants, solvents, extenders, coalescents, biocides, opaque polymers, and colorants.

6. A compound having the following structure:

where Ar 1 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with from 1 to 3 C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups; and with Ar 2 is phenyl-OCH 2 CH 2 — and where the phenyl portion of Ar 2 is unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 3 C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, where m is from 1 to 20; and n is from 1 to 100.

7. The compound of claim 6 which is represented by the following formula Ib:

8. The compound of claim 6 which is represented by the following formula Ib:

wherein the compound has a number average molecular weight in the range of from 500 to 10,000 g/mol.