Synthesis and characterization of partially fluorinated ethers

A series of partially fluorinated ethers PFE-m,n with general formula F(CF2)(m)CH(2)CH(2)O(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(CF2)(m)-(CH(2))(n)H (FHm, n) with the same value of the m/n ratio have been reported. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.