An Environmentally Friendly Class of Fluoropolyether: α,ω-Dialkoxyfluoropolyethers

The α,ω-dialkoxyfluoropolyethers (DA-FPEs) characterized by the structure RHO(CF2CF2O)n(CF2O)mRH have been developed as a new class of environmentally friendly hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) suitable as solvents, long-term refrigerants, cleaning fluids, and heat transfer fluids. Synthetic methodologies for DA-FPEs described here consist of radical-initiated oxypolymerization of olefin, peroxy-elimination reaction in peroxidic perfluoropolyethers (P-PFPEs) and further chemical modification of α,ω-diacylfluoride PFPE. The physical properties of selected α,ω-dimethoxyfluoropolyethers (DM-FPEs) have been evaluated and compared with analogous hydrofluoropolyethers (HFPEs) having -OCF2H as end-groups. Atmospheric implications and global warming potentials (GWPs) of selected DA-FPEs are also considered.