Synthesis and characterization of partially fluorinated ethers

Abstract

A series of partially fluorinated ethers PFE- m, n with general formula F(CF 2) m CH 2CH 2O(CH 2) n H ( m = 4, 6, 8 and n = 2, 3, 5, 8, 14, 18, 21) has been synthesized and characterized. The present work aimed to investigate the synthesis of PFE- m, n and evaluate some of their fundamental physico-chemical properties such as: specific gravity, refractive index, viscosity, solid–solid transitions, solubility and amphiphile surface activity in a variety of solvents. Further, a comparison between PFE- m, n and the well known semifluorinated n-alkanes F(CF 2) m –(CH 2) nH (FHm, n) with the same value of the m/ n ratio have been reported.