Palladium-catalysed telomerization of butadiene with aldoses in an organic medium can be directed towards the formation of mono- or di-octadienyl ethers. The relative reactant ratios and the amounts of dissolved gaseous butadiene have been defined as the crucial parameters to this purpose. The resulting octadienyl ethers could be hydrogenated, leading to the corresponding saturated non-ionic surfactants. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.